Evening electronic device use: The effects on alertness, sleep and next-day physical performance in athletes. Issue 2 (17th January 2018)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Jones, Maddison J.; Peeling, Peter; Dawson, Brian; Halson, Shona; Miller, Joanna; Dunican, Ian; Clarke, Michael; Goodman, Carmel; Eastwood, Peter
• Is Part Of: Journal of sports sciences. Volume 36:Issue 2(2018)
• Page Start: 162
• Page End: 170
• Publication Date: 2018-01-17
• Subjects: Electronic device -- sleep -- athlete -- performance; Sports -- Periodicals; Sports -- Physiological aspects -- Periodicals; Sports -- Psychological aspects -- Periodicals; 612.044
• DOI: 10.1080/02640414.2017.1287936
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 0264-0414

Abstract

ABSTRACT: The aim of the present study was to investigate the influence of different types of tasks performed with or without an electronic device (tablet) on pre-sleep alertness, subsequent sleep quality and next-day athletic performance. Eight highly trained netball players attended a sleep laboratory for pre-sleep testing, polysomnographic sleep monitoring and next-day physical performance testing on 5 separate occasions (1 familiarisation and 4 experimental sessions). For 2 h prior to bedtime, athletes completed cognitively stimulating tasks (puzzles) or passive tasks (reading) with or without a tablet. Sleepiness tended to be greater after reading compared to completing puzzles without a tablet ( d = 0.80), but not with a tablet. Melatonin concentration increased more so after reading compared to completing puzzles on a tablet ( P = 0.02). There were no significant differences in sleep quality or quantity or next-day athletic performance between any of the conditions. These data suggest that using a tablet for 2 h prior to sleep does not negatively affect subsequent sleep or next-day performance in athletes.