Measuring and Predicting Sleep and Performance During Military Operations

It is widely believed that a full night s sleep is an unnecessary, inefficient luxury. However, this belief is even stronger in military and political settings in which a reduced need for sleep is seen often as a badge of honor. Throughout history, it has been reported that many noted individuals (eg, Alexander the Great, Napoleon Bonaparte, and Winston Churchill) only slept a maximum of 4 to 6 hours/day. Whether they slept for a short time every day and did not get longer sleeps and/or naps regularly is open for debate. More importantly, whether these individuals performed at an optimal level is another issue for discussion, which leads to the following questions: How is sleep assessed quantitatively? What measurable performance effects exist? By addressing these questions, a clearer picture of minimum and optimal sleep needs emerges. Throughout this chapter, there are specific terms used to describe this process and the performance measures affiliated with it, including: sleep, sleepiness, circadian, fatigue and impairment. Published in Military Quantitative Physiology: Problems and Concepts in Military Operational Medicine, chapter 3, p73-92, 2012.