Date of Award

2024

Document Type

Thesis

Degree Name

Bachelors

Department

Natural Sciences

First Advisor

Gillman, David

Area of Concentration

Computer Science with Mathematics

Abstract

This thesis delves into the realm of sleep issues and disorders, probing the intricacies of optimal sleep patterns and the factors influencing them. At the core of this inquiry lies the persistent question: “If sleep is paramount, why do some people struggle to attain it?” The research goal is to identify the biological and environmental elements that impede a person’s ability to obtain sufficient rest. I collected data about myself every day from January 4th to May 5th, from diary entries and a wristband that tracks physical activity and sleep metrics throughout the day and night. Using statistical analysis and visualization tools, I investigate correlations between sleep performance and various causal factors. These factors include categorical assessments such as daily stress level from diary entries and categorical and numerical measurements such as physical indicators of stress, heart and breathing rate, daily strain, calories burned, heart rate variability from a wristband. I present the data in an interactive website that allows anyone to explore factors that affect quality of sleep, and I discuss possible conclusions that can be drawn from the data. I draw additional data published papers on sleep and discuss the research. I give particular attention to the effects of sleep deprivation on cognitive decline. Functional MRI data comparing sleep-deprived subjects with those who enjoyed a full night’s rest distinctly illustrated the impact in different regions of the brain, particularly evident within the frontal lobe where crucial decision-making and analytical processes unfold.

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