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Sleep and Performance Research Center

Simulated Hazardous Operational Tasks Laboratory

Lois James, Ph.D.

AREAS OF INTEREST

Sleep deprivation, circadian rhythms, jet lag management, health and wellness, athletic performance, critical decision making, biases

RESEARCH SCOPE

Sleep is a core mediator of human health and performance. Populations that require a performance edge (such as elite athletes, police officers, military, and medical personnel) face challenges in getting sufficient sleep. As a consequence, their health, safety, and performance can be compromised. Adding to this problem, shift work and jet-lag through trans-meridian air travel add to health problems and performance deficits in these populations.

RESEARCH FOCUS

Effects of sleep and circadian disruption on health, wellness, safety, and performance
I focus on the relationship between sleep, health, and performance in elite populations such as athletes, police officers, military, and medical personnel. I am particularly interested in how sleep disruption due to shift work, and disruption of the circadian clock due to jet lag, lead to negative health outcomes and performance deficits. Through understanding the prevalence and impact of sleep deprivation and circadian disruption within these populations we can create fatigue management strategies to help build resilience and reduce the risk of performance deficits and chronic health issues. Examples of these strategies are shift management plans for nurses, sleep hygiene education for police officers and jet lag management plans for athletes competing overseas.

APPROACHES USED

  • Simulated critical tasks
  • Cognitive testing
  • Actigraphy

GRANT SUPPORT

  • DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE (DOD)
    • Office of Naval Research (ONR)
    • Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency (DARPA)
    • Secretary of Defense (SecDef)
  • NATIONAL INSTITUTES OF HEALTH (NIH)
    • National Institute of Minority Health Disparities (NIMHD)
  • AGENCY FOR HEALTHCARE RESEARCH AND QUALITY (AHRQ)
  • DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE (DOJ)
    • National Institute of Justice (NIJ)
    • Office of Justice Programs (OJP)
  • NATIONAL INSTITUTE OF OCCUPATIONAL SAFETY AND HEALTH (NIOSH)
  • OWN THE PODIUM
  • INDIVIDUAL POLICE AGENCIES
    • Royal Canadian Mounted Police
    • Chicago Police Department
    • Seattle Police Department
    • Spokane Police Department

PUBLICATIONS

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov