A microsleep is when we fall asleep for the briefest of moments, so brief in fact, that we might not realise it has happened. Dr Lindsay Browning, neuroscientist, owner of leading sleep issues clinic Trouble Sleeping and author of Navigating Sleeplessness says, “Sometimes the person’s eyes will shut, but a microsleep can still happen with eyes open.”
Lasting only one to 15 seconds, these mini slumbers are the result of several factors, including lack of normal sleep due to stress, lifestyle or conditions such as sleep apnoea. Microsleeps might sound harmless – after all, what’s a few seconds? – but the consequences can be big, especially if you fall asleep at the wheel while driving.
