Sleep banking, as described by neurobiologist Allison Brager, is a concept that suggests you can make up for lost sleep by increasing your sleep duration prior to a period of anticipated sleep deprivation. The idea is that by “banking” extra sleep beforehand, you can draw on those reserves to help maintain performance and mitigate the negative effects of sleep deprivation.
According to Brager, studies conducted at Walter Reed National Military Medical Center support the notion of sleep banking.
These studies indicate that individuals who obtain an additional hour of sleep each day before a period of sleep deprivation perform better compared to those who don’t. Sleep deprivation can have detrimental effects on emotional stability, cognitive function, and physical performance, but sleep banking appears to result in a slower decline in performance rather than an immediate drop.
While the concept of sleep banking is intriguing, it’s important to note that it may not fully compensate for the negative effects of chronic sleep deprivation. Obtaining sufficient and quality sleep on a regular basis is still the best approach to maintaining optimal health and well-being. Sleep banking can be helpful in certain situations where you anticipate sleep disruption, but it is not a substitute for consistently prioritizing healthy sleep habits.