53 - Sleeping Minds: The Interplay between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function for Perinatal and Postpartum Individuals

Description/Abstract/Artist Statement

Studies suggest that adults need 7-9 hours of sleep for proper cognitive and bodily functioning; as the body requires sleep for regenerative actions such as alertness, attention control, and emotional experiences (Killgore, 2010). Sleep plays a vital role in memory, attention, decision-making, and other cognitive functions, all of which can decline with inadequate sleep. Sleep disturbances among perinatal and postpartum individuals is a commonly reported symptom of parenthood and inadequate sleep can affect cognitive abilities and fetal development. While correlations between low sleep quality and the daily cognitive function of pregnant and postpartum individuals are commonly discussed, the research done to provide conclusive evidence of this phenomenon still remains underdeveloped. Prior findings suggest a correlation between poor sleep quality with poor cognitive functioning in the general population, which calls into question the potentially detrimental effects that poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation can have on a fetus and parent. Utilizing multiple methods of measurement including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and two memory measures which assess daily memory tasks, this study aims to delve further into researching if correlations between sleep quality and cognitive function differ between perinatal and postpartum individuals.

Presenting Author Name/s

Julie Booth and Anita Tieku

Faculty Advisor/Mentor

Dr. Paulson

Faculty Advisor/Mentor Department

Psychology

College Affiliation

College of Sciences

Presentation Type

Poster

Disciplines

Cognition and Perception | Cognitive Psychology | Health Psychology

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53 - Sleeping Minds: The Interplay between Sleep Quality and Cognitive Function for Perinatal and Postpartum Individuals

Studies suggest that adults need 7-9 hours of sleep for proper cognitive and bodily functioning; as the body requires sleep for regenerative actions such as alertness, attention control, and emotional experiences (Killgore, 2010). Sleep plays a vital role in memory, attention, decision-making, and other cognitive functions, all of which can decline with inadequate sleep. Sleep disturbances among perinatal and postpartum individuals is a commonly reported symptom of parenthood and inadequate sleep can affect cognitive abilities and fetal development. While correlations between low sleep quality and the daily cognitive function of pregnant and postpartum individuals are commonly discussed, the research done to provide conclusive evidence of this phenomenon still remains underdeveloped. Prior findings suggest a correlation between poor sleep quality with poor cognitive functioning in the general population, which calls into question the potentially detrimental effects that poor sleep quality and sleep deprivation can have on a fetus and parent. Utilizing multiple methods of measurement including the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and two memory measures which assess daily memory tasks, this study aims to delve further into researching if correlations between sleep quality and cognitive function differ between perinatal and postpartum individuals.