Vigilanz, Einschlafneigung, Daueraufmerksamkeit, Müdigkeit, Schläfrigkeit

Sleepiness and performance decrements are one of the most prominent symptoms in sleep disorders. The examination of sleepiness related social risks in sleep medicine, like e. g. driving capacity or working capability is still an open problem. Because of the lack of an exact definition of the term sleepiness, the inappropriate use of sleepiness related diagnostic tools and the complexity of the methods itself, there are several difficulties in the diagnostic procedure of daytime sleepiness. From a neuropsychological point of view the theoretical basis of sleepiness and influencing variables in the assessment of daytime sleepiness are discussed. With respect to sleep deprivation studies a neuropsychological concept for the assessment of sleepiness related symptoms is proposed. Task and personality related factors, the influence of circadian rhythms and variables of situation and their control in the situation of investigation are shown.