0053 Circadian Regulation in the Social Brain: How Sleep Deprivation Compromises Empathy

Abstract Introduction The interaction between the circadian clock and sleep drive generates a rhythm of deterioration recovery in cognition over wake sleep, respectively. In modern society, our is often disrupted due to long unsociable work hours. Emerging evidence suggests that this negatively impacts social interactions, but physiological mechanisms remain unclear. Our perceptions other people’s mental states dominate interpersonal profoundly impact lives. This study examined how deprivation another’s state (a cognitive domain known as Theory Mind: ToM). Methods 21 young healthy adults completed (11 females: mean age +/-SD =22.09 +/- 3.59, 10 males: SD =23 + 4.13). Over 12-hour overnight wakefulness period, we changes ToM every two hours with Reading Mind’s Eye (RMIE) task. It consists 36 images, each pair eyes representing an emotion, categorized Easy or Difficult positive, negative, neutral (valence). We measured accuracy based on 4-forced alternative response. Subjective sleepiness was Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). Results analysis revealed significant effect (p < 0.0001), such it declined precipitously 4 into protocol (coinciding midnight). Accuracy significantly better (p< 0.01) for stimuli than stimuli, both wakefulness. A similar result seen valence Positive (74.5% 1.8%) showing (mean 1SE) negative (57.4% 1.9%) (58.2% 1.7%) ones. But all three (Positive: 84% -72.4%; Negative:61.2% - 58.5; Neutral: 64.2% 59.9%). increased 0.0001). Furthermore, there correlation (correlation: 0.5; Fisher’s z test: p = 0.03) change RMIE task accuracy. Conclusion These findings are one first descriptions regulation Mind, ability empathize. They have scientific clinical implications. Support (if any) British Academy/Leverhume Small Research Grant Nayantara Santhi.