Judy T. Klaus

Date of Award

7-1-2002

Document Type

Thesis

First Advisor

Dr. Thomas Petros

Abstract

Executive functions are the cognitive abilities that include self-regulation, inhibition of responding, planning, and mental flexibility. Previous studies on executive functions I I have focused on people with ADHD and other impairments. Studies on sleep and cognitive function abilities have focused on the effects of lack of sleep and the ability to perform executive function tasks. This study examined the cognitive abilities of children with no impairment in relationship to Time of Day, Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality.

Thirty children ranging from age 7 to age 12 were recruited from the area. A self-report questionnaire on typical Sleep Duration and Sleep Quality, and the Child Behavior Checklist were sent one week in advance to be completed before the time of testing. The children were tested at either 9AM or 3PM on five executive function tasks. The executive function tasks included the Connors Continuous Performance Test, Digit Span, Tower of London, Controlled Oral Word Association Test and the Wisconsin Card Sorting Task.

This study showed that when the participants perceived themselves to be well rested, (sleep duration and sleep quality self-reports) cognitive performance in some executive function tasks was more proficient, and this effect varied as a function of Time of Day of testing.

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