What Happens to Your Brain During 24 Hours Without Sleep_ Psychology of Exhaustion

You have been awake for 24 hours. Your reaction time is equivalent to a blood alcohol level of 0.10 percent. You are legally drunk. You have not had a drink. Your brain is starving for rest.After 24 hours without sleep, the prefrontal cortex, responsible for decision-making and impulse control, begins to shut down. The amygdala, responsible for emotional reactions, becomes hyperactive. You are more likely to take risks, more likely to misinterpret social cues, and more likely to react with anger. Your working memory is impaired. Your attention span is reduced. You are not yourself. You are a diminished version of yourself.The glymphatic system, which clears toxic waste from the brain, has been offline for a full day. Amyloid beta and tau proteins are accumulating. These are the same proteins linked to Alzheimer's disease. One night of sleep deprivation is not going to give you dementia. But a lifetime of sleep deprivation will.Turn down the lights, put on your headphones, and press play because what happens to your brain during 24 hours without sleep is not a badge of honor. It is a medical emergency.