The Role of Sleep Banking in Reducing Cognitive and Motor Impairments from Subsequent Sleep Restriction: A Narrative Review

Sleep banking, i.e., preemptively obtaining extra sleep prior to anticipated sleep loss, has been proposed as a strategy to reduce the cognitive and physiological consequences of sleep deprivation. However, our understanding remains incomplete regarding the effectiveness of preemptive sleep extension in enhancing resilience to sleep loss. A comprehensive literature search was conducted using PubMed, MEDLINE, and Embase for studies published between 2004 and 2025. Following a comprehensive literature search, we identified 12 studies meeting the inclusion criteria-seven primary experimental trials comprising approximately 140 participants, predominantly healthy young adults aged 18-39 years. We evaluated the effects of sleep banking on cognitive performance, mood, physiological parameters, and real-world outcomes. Included studies encompassed experimental laboratory trials, observational research, and field studies in occupational and athletic settings. Although the number of studies on sleep banking remains limited, experimental evidence demonstrates that preemptive sleep extension improves objective alertness and vigilance during subsequent sleep restriction or total sleep deprivation. Individuals who obtained additional sleep exhibited fewer attentional lapses, faster reaction times, and improved mood, although subjective sleepiness often remained high. Preliminary field evidence suggests that preemptive sleep extension enhances workplace safety, reduces errors, and improves sustained attention in shift workers. In athletic contexts, sleep banking has been associated with improved physical endurance and reaction speed. Importantly, this review primarily addresses the homeostatic dimension of sleep regulation (Process S); circadian factors (Process C), including chronotype, social jetlag, and circadian timing of sleep extension and testing, were not systematically addressed in the included studies and represent important limitations of the current evidence base. Overall, sleep banking appears to be a viable strategy for enhancing resilience to acute sleep loss. It confers measurable benefits in performance, cognitive function, and physiological markers, supporting its application in high-demand occupations and competitive environments. Although it does not fully eliminate subjective fatigue, sleep banking may serve as a valuable complement to other fatigue mitigation strategies for anticipated short-term sleep loss.