Sleep Deprivation as Bad as Alcohol

While we’re already aware of the risks of fatigue driving, a new study drives home the point that sleep deprivation negatively affects brain function.

In fact sleep deprivation affects brain cell communication similarly to the way alcohol does. You wouldn’t drive drunk, so why drive tired?

According to a study by researchers at the University of California, conducted by Professor Itzhak Fried, exhausted neurons react slower than usual and take longer to transmit weaker signals.

A poor night’s sleep often leads to memory lapses and poor concentration, both of which can prove dangerous on the road.

The study involved testing 12 tired epileptic patients who had electrodes implanted into their brains to determine the origin of their seizures. The researchers found that depriving the body of sleep, actually inhibits proper functioning of the neurons.

Source: http://www.sbs.com.au/news/article/2017/11/07/sleep-deprivation-alcohol-study