Evaluation of the dynamic visual weakness and automatic motor response in total sleep loss

The balance system is the most important sensory system associated with the movement. Balance is controlled by the stimuli delivered from visual, somatosensorial, and vestibular systems. Sleep is a behavioral condition in humans that is repeated at regular intervals over a period of one day. Along with the changing of the world, there has been a change in the sleep patterns of the people. The overall prevalence of inadequate sleep in adults is estimated at 20%. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the dynamic visual weakness and automatic motor responses in subjects with total sleep loss. Thirty-one healthy young adults between the ages of 18- 36 years were included in this study. All subjects were evaluated with Sensory Organization Test (SOT), Adaptation Test, Static Visual Acuity Test, Minimum Perception Time Test, Dynamic Visual Acuity Test and Gaze Stabilization Test. All tests were performed on a normal day (normal state) in which the daily sleep cycle was not disturbed, and on a day when total sleep loss was more than 24 hours (total sleep loss state). A statistically significant difference was found between the normal and the total sleep loss states in sensory analysis ratios except visual preference score in SOT and Minimum Visual Perception Time values (p <.05). It was found that somatosensor ratio, visual ratio and vestibular ratio were lower and visual perception time was prolonged in case of total sleep loss. No significant difference was found between two different states in the values obtained in SOT Condition 1 scores, Adaptation Test, Gaze Stabilization Test, Static and Dynamic Visual Acuity Test (p>, 05). As a result, it was determined that total sleep loss affects postural balance and visual perception time, but does not significantly affect postural adaptation and dynamic visual performances. Key words: total sleep loss, postural balance, sensory organization test, dynamic visual acuity,visual perception time