The effect of total sleep deprivation on executive functions in athletes

Sleep is recognised as an essential component of an athlete’s preparation and recovery, yet many struggle to meet the minimum recommended hours. While cognitive functions, particularly executive functions, are also essential for athletic performance, the impact of sleep deprivation on the executive functions of athletes remains underexplored. Therefore, we examined the impact of total sleep deprivation on athletes’ core executive functions. A total of 49 athletes (M = 22.27 years, SD = 2.2, 51% female) performed behavioural measures of working memory, response inhibition, and cognitive flexibility after 24 h of sleep deprivation and a habitual night of sleep (M = 451 min, SD = 65 min). Our findings revealed that only cognitive flexibility (total time; pHolm = .003) and response inhibition (reaction time; pHolm = .025) were significantly affected by sleep deprivation, whereas working memory (pHolm = .283) and the accuracy component of response inhibition (pHolm = .133) remained stable. Furthermore, the effects of sleep deprivation were not significantly moderated by PSQI score, age, or gender. The absence of further effects may be explained by the use of cognitive compensatory mechanisms that provide alternative processes, allowing athletes to adapt to disruptions or deficits.