A recent study by McGill suggests that if you are fit, you might be better shielded against the adverse effects of sleep loss on memory.
The research led by The Memory Lab team and Associate Professor Marc Roig from the School of Physical and Occupational Therapy found that those with good cardiorespiratory fitness seemed to have a memory more resistant to the negative impact of sleep deprivation.
The Memory Test
To delve into the impacts of sleep deprivation and fitness levels, the researchers deprived participants of sleep for 30 hours. They then asked the participants to view a series of 150 images.
When tested four days later, the sleep-deprived group struggled to recall the images, showing that sleep loss before viewing the images had negatively affected their memory.
However, it was a different story for those in the sleep-deprived group who had higher levels of cardiorespiratory fitness.
These participants scored considerably higher on the image recall task, indicating that they were better protected against the ill effects of sleep loss.
The Superbrain Secret? Exercise!
The research team believes that maintaining good cardiorespiratory fitness through regular exercise could potentially lead to the development of a ‘superbrain.’
This resilient brain is less susceptible to memory loss due to sleep deprivation.
Implications for Critical Job Roles
These findings could be particularly crucial for individuals suffering from sleep issues or those who often have to stay awake for extended periods.
The study highlights the importance of fitness in job roles such as pilots, surgeons, and health care professionals, where maintaining memory capacity and avoiding mistakes are critical.
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The study was published in Medicine & Science in Sports & Exercise.
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