Interrupted night sleep worsens ability to remember information

Having one’s sleep interrupted sometimes may not be preventable. However, care must be exercised considering the fact that interruption of sleep may affect the brain functions in several ways, including one’s cognitive functions.

For many people, waking them from sleep to attend to any issue is something they do not like. Some say this makes them develop headache, others say that they later find it difficult to go back to sleep. Some mothers too will rather not wake their children up for a late night dinner because it might mean their inability to fall asleep immediately.

Sleep interruption sometimes may not be preventable. However, this is an act in which care must be exercised, considering that interruption of sleep may affect the brain functions in several ways, contribute to development of diseases that affect important organs of the body such as the brain, heart and reduce one’s life span. It also can affect one’s cognitive function.

Cognition function refers to a range of high-level brain functions, including the ability to learn and remember information: organise, plan and problem-solve; focus, maintain and shift attention as necessary; understand and use language; accurately perceive the environment and perform calculations.

The human body works, according to a natural 24-hour sleep-wake cycle referred to as a circadian rhythm, which controls body temperature, sleep/wake timing, and the way our organs and body systems work together. Past research has shown that irregular sleep patterns and shift work take a toll on even the healthiest person over an extended period of time.

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