Researchers from the University of Georgia (USA) have discovered an alarming link between the quality of sleep in adolescents and their brain activity. It turned out that chronic sleep deprivation reduces the effectiveness of neural connections in the prefrontal cortex, which is responsible for self-control, decision-making, and emotional regulation. The findings of the respective study were published in the scientific journal Brain and Behavior (B&B).

During the experiment, more than 2,800 adolescents wore fitness trackers to monitor their sleep for two weeks, after which they underwent MRI brain scans. The parents of the participants provided information about the behavioral characteristics of their children. And the results showed a clear link: the worse and shorter the sleep, the weaker the functional connections between key brain regions.

The researchers were particularly alarmed by the data that boys, slightly older adolescents, and racial minorities were more likely to suffer from sleep deprivation and showed more behavioral problems.

According to the study's lead author, Assaf Oshri, adolescence is a critical period for brain development, when sleep deprivation can cause a snowball effect, gradually leading to deterioration in cognitive functions and emotional regulation.

The scientists call for the development of special sleep hygiene programs for adolescents to prevent possible behavioral and mental health problems in the future.