Get Some Sleep! Your Memory Depends on It

Previous studies have emphasized the need for regular rest and lots of it. Research shows that inadequate sleep can increase the risk of weight gain, various health issues and create a potential public safety hazard due to loss of concentration or motor function.

Now, a recent study published in the journal Psychological Science shows that missed sleep can also result in memory issues over time.

"We found memory distortion is greater after sleep deprivation," said Kimberly Fenn, MSU associate professor of psychology and co-investigator on the study, in a news release. "And people are getting less sleep each night than they ever have."

Distorted memory can result in serious consequences in areas such as criminal justice, where eyewitness misidentifications can lead to wrongful convictions in the United States.

Furthermore, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) has even called insufficient sleep an epidemic that's been connected to increased risk of vehicle crashes, industrial disasters and even certain chronic health issues, such as diabetes and hypertension.

To determine just how much of an effect sleep can have on memory, researchers conducted experiments at MUS and UC-Irvine. Some participants were kept awake for 24 hours while others only slept for five hours or fewer.

Findings revealed that those who did not receive the recommended amount of rest were more likely to mix up event details than those who had received adequate sleep.

"People who repeatedly get low amounts of sleep every night could be more prone in the long run to develop these forms of memory distortion," Fenn said. "It's not just a full night of sleep deprivation that puts them at risk."