Sleep Duration and Reaction Time in Athletes: The Impact of Sleep Deprivation and Sleep Quality on Cognitive-Motor Performance – A Narrative Review

Abstract

Background. Rapid perception, response selection and motor execution are the fundament of many sports, yet these processes may be vulnerable to insufficient or disrupted sleep.
Aim. To critically synthesize evidence on the relationships between sleep duration, sleep deprivation, sleep quality and reaction-related cognitive-motor performance in athletes.
Material and methods. A focused narrative literature search was carried out mainly in PubMed/MEDLINE, with additional sources identified through publisher databases and reference-list screening. Athlete-specific experimental and observational studies, systematic reviews, meta-analyses and expert consensus publications were prioritized.
Results. Acute total sleep deprivation consistently impairs vigilance and several reaction-time domains, whereas findings after partial sleep restriction are more heterogeneous. Sport-specific accuracy, response inhibition and complex cognitive-motor performance appear particularly susceptible. Sleep extension can improve vigilance and technical performance, but available intervention studies are generally small. Evidence linking habitual sleep quality independently of sleep duration to reaction time remains limited.
Conclusions. Adequate sleep appears important for maintaining cognitive-motor performance in athletes, particularly when tasks require sustained attention, rapid response selection and technical precision. Individualized sleep strategies are preferable to a universal duration threshold.