Sleep, Cognition, and Criminality: Exploring the Complex Interplay between Sleep Disruptions and Forensic Implications

Abstract Sleep is very important in ensuring that there is an optimal cognitive and behavioral functioning. Sleep disorders and sleep deprivation have been known to hamper attention, decision- making and psychomotor performance, which are critical in controlled human behavior. According to neuroimaging research sleep deprivation causes extensive changes to the brain activity, which causes lapses in cognition and inefficiency in day-to-day functioning. Although the impact of complete sleep deprivation has been well researched, there is an indication that even partial or chronic sleep deprivation as frequently seen in real life situations can have considerable impact on cognitive functions. The severity of these effects can be moderated by such variables as age, gender, and genetic predisposition and can affect personal vulnerability to neurobehavioral impairments. Sleep cognitive impairments are not easy to recover, and they usually take a significant amount of time, which affects personal and social productivity. Within forensic and legal settings, sleep deprivation has been linked to actions that can lead to either unintended injuries or a law-breaking act as a result of poor control. This paper will conduct a review of physiology of sleep, the sleep disorders spectrum, neurobehavioral impacts of sleep disorders and a case study in relation to the behavioral implications and its possible forensic implications.