Sleep deprivation and its effect on executive functions

Introduction: the subject of this thesis is sleep deprivation, its causes, and consequences in different categories: neurobiological, cognitive, emotional, and social. Therefore, the purpose is to understand how the lack of rest influences the overall health of the individual and their environment, as well as to identify risk factors and possible prevention strategies. Methods: a literature search was conducted in the PubMed database using MeSH terms such as Sleep Deprivation, Cognitive Function, Executive Function, Memory, and Attention. Results: the studies share a very similar thematic and scientific core but come from different approaches. They all agree that lack of sleep impairs cognitive functions, especially memory, attention, and decision-making, although they differ in their focus and study population.  Conclusion: sleep deprivation is a multifactorial phenomenon that affects brain function and requires a comprehensive approach, as highlighted by the research findings.