A new study has explored the link between sleep deprivation and the inability to stop intrusive thoughts and memories. The research, led by University of East Anglia lecturer Dr Marcus Harrington, found that healthy participants deprived of sleep showed an impaired ability to control unwanted thoughts.
The results of this study suggest a link between poor sleep and difficulties in suppressing memory retrieval. Published in Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences (PNAS), the findings shed light on how a lack of sleep could contribute to mental health issues and may assist in the development of potential treatment.
