The Physiological Relationship of Sleep Duration with Blood Pressure, Heart Rate, and Reaction Time

Abstract

This experiment examined the relationship between sleep duration and systolic blood pressure, diastolic blood pressure, mean arterial blood pressure, heart rate, and reaction time. We hypothesized that students who averaged fewer hours of sleep per night would have higher systolic, diastolic, and mean arterial blood pressure, faster heart rate, and slower reaction time than students who averaged more hours of sleep per night. In addition, we hypothesized that when the participants’ average length of sleep varied from what they estimated getting on the first day of the study, their blood pressures, heart rates, and reaction times would be impacted. Finally, we hypothesized that external factors such as eating, exercising, consuming caffeine, and feeling hydrated would have no direct impact on reaction time. Participants’ blood pressures, heart rates, and reaction times were measured on the first and the eighth day of the study, while a Google survey was used to record the self reports participants submitted, which indicated how many hours of sleep they slept each night. Results of the study demonstrated a significant correlation between the difference in sleep and change in systolic blood pressure. There was also a significant relationship recorded between day eight reaction time and perceived hydration.