The Effect of Sleep Deprivation on Sustained and Selective Attention in Female Student Athletes

Sleeping is one of the most important part of circadian cycle and is complex biological pattern which is essential for physical and mental recovery of ordinary people and athletes. The aim of this study is determining the effect of 24 hours sleep deprivation on sustained and selective attention of Iranian Female athletes. For this purpose، 30 volunteered students were selected randomly and divided into two groups of control and experimental. Participants in experimental group stayed awake for 24 hours and participants in control group followed their routine programs. Measuring attention tests were taken before and after 24 hours period and the results were compared by using covariance analysis. Results showed that there is a significant difference between two groups in the case of selective attention and sustained. According to this study results، sleep deprivation effects on athletes attention and reduce their cognitive function and ultimately degrades the athletes performance during different competitions.