Rest assured that sleep -- or lack thereof -- is something that is on the minds of many Penn State students. Not only do those who pull all-nighters have a higher risk of falling asleep in class, but for getting sick as well.
Frederick Brown, associate professor of psychology, said the side effects from staying up all night may not be apparent to students. While increased sleepiness is an obvious consequence, the suppression of both the production of melatonin and immune system hormones may be unclear.
"The more serious of the two is the suppression of immune system hormones because it increases the fragility and susceptibility to the effects of pathogens, colds and other respiratory problems," he said.
However, Brown said recovery can occur fairly easily with adequate sleep for the next few nights, allowing immune system functioning to resume at its former level.
A greater problem, Brown said, is a constant lack of sleep.
"Chronic sleep deprivation and pulling all-nighters is a double-whammy to the immune system. It affects a person's performance in subtle ways that they may not be aware of," he said.
Brown said loss of sleep also interferes with memory consolidation.
"A person may be a bit more forgetful, distracted and just not with it," he said.
Linda Hasman, spokeswoman for the National Sleep Foundation (NSF), said NSF was inspired to launch National Sleep Awareness Week in 1998 to raise awareness about the importance of regular sleep and the need to address sleep disorders. The week runs from Monday through April 6.
"National Sleep Awareness Week leads up to the return of daylight-saving time. It ends the Sunday when clocks 'spring forward' at 2 a.m. and people throughout the country 'lose' an hour of their day. Too often what is lost is an hour of sleep," she said.
That hour of sleep can be precious, especially to those who pull all-nighters in order to study for a test.
Nicole Motkowski (junior-actuarial science) recalled the last time she stayed up late to study for a test: "Last semester, I had a final at 8 a.m. for my Math 230 [Calculus and Vector Analysis] class. I haven't stayed up all night, but I've been [at the HUB-Robeson Center] until three or four in the morning."
Motkowski can easily recognize when students are studying for a test.
"I'll see people surrounded by three or four cups of coffee," she said.
Other Penn State students had mixed reactions when dealing with all-nighters.
Mike Stanz (senior-mechanical engineering) remembered getting about four hours of sleep per night last year.
"I wasted too much time so when I had to do my work, I'd start it late at night," he said. "Because of that, I'd take a lot more naps during the day, which probably wasted even more time," he said.
Stanz recommended pulling all-nighters only once in a while.
"A couple of my friends do it a lot. I don't know how you can stay up even two days in a row. I'd be so tired, I couldn't do anything. I wouldn't recommend doing it more than twice a week, but every now and then I guess they could be productive," he said.
Vince Stanley (senior-mechanical engineering) never stayed up all night to study for a test.
"The only time I've ever stayed up all night was Prom Night to see the sun rise. It was worth it," he said. "Maybe if I pulled all-nighters, I'd have really good grades. I don't have really good grades. I have really good looks instead," he said.
Stanley does not rely on anything in order to stay awake.
"I don't think straight on caffeine. I don't drink soda or use pills. When I drink coffee, I'll zone out and 20 minutes can pass and I won't even know it," he said.
Stanley saw the effects of staying up all night from his friends.
"They look like trash the next day and they remind me how tired they are every 15 minutes," he said.
When it comes to pulling an all-nighter in order to study for a test or going to bed early, Motkowski prefers the latter.
"I definitely wouldn't recommend them," she said. "I don't know anyone that can stay up late and think clearly the next day. The body needs to rest."
