Sleep and intelligence: critical review and future directions. (June 2020)

• Record Type: Journal Article
• Authors: Ujma, Péter P; Bódizs, Róbert; Dresler, Martin
• Is Part Of: Current opinion in behavioral sciences. Volume 33(2020)
• Page Start: 109
• Page End: 117
• Publication Date: 2020-06
• Subjects: Psychology -- Periodicals; 150.5
• DOI: 10.1016/j.cobeha.2020.01.009
• Languages: English
• ISSNs: 2352-1546

Abstract

Highlights: The macrostructure of sleep has a small but consistent correlation with intelligence, with possible nonlinear effects. Biological and social factors contribute to the relationship between sleep macrostructure and intelligence. Sleep spindle amplitude is a possible biomarker of intelligence. Sleep EEG measures are promising biomarkers of intelligence, but the literature suffers from serious methodological concerns. Abstract : General cognitive ability — or intelligence — is a key psychological phenotype. Individual differences in intelligence may either cause or be a consequence of individual differences in the macrostructure of sleep, such as timing or duration. Furthermore, biological measures of sleep, especially highly trait-like sleep EEG oscillations may provide insights about the biological underpinnings of intelligence. Here we review the current state of research on the association between sleep measures and intelligence. We concluded that the macrostructure of sleep has a small but consistent correlation with intelligence, which is possibly moderated by age. Sleep spindle amplitude and possibly other sleep EEG measures are biomarkers of intelligence. We close by discussing methodological pitfalls of the field, and give recommendations for future directions.