Effect of Night Shift-Related Tiredness on Eye Saccades

Parameters of saccades (latency, amplitude, duration, and velocity) were measured using a saccadometer in 32 nurses (30 women and 2 men) before and after a night shift. The mean latency of saccades was found to significantly increase after this period (209.6 ± 6.84 vs. 188.6 ± 6.08 msec, P = 0.002); the same was found with respect to the saccade duration (55.0 ± 0.97 vs. 54.2 ± 1.23 msec, P < 0.05). Thus, stress and sleep deprivation noticeably influence the parameters of saccades; the latter, nonetheless, remain within a physiological range. Considering that a number of brain structures are involved in the control of saccade parameters, the above-described modulations of saccades can be potentially used as generalized indices characterizing the level of brain tiredness.

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