Background: Problem of sleep disturbance is growing in epidemic proportion among young adults. How it affects their cognitive functioning is not so well studied in India. In the current study we try to find any impairment in cognitive abilities using neuropsychological tests in young college going adults with sleep related issues. Methods:We evaluated 100 college going adults (35 males, 65 females) for two tests of cognitive function: Mackworth clock test for sustained attention and Corsi block tapping test for short term memory. The participant’s sleep problem was scored priorly using Insomnia severity index (ISI), Groningen sleep quality scale(GSQS) and Morningness-Eveningness questionnaire (MEQ score). Cognitive tests scores were compared between different groups using ANOVA. Results:The results of current study showed no significant relation between tests of cognitive function and scores of Insomnia severity index or Morningness-Evenigness questionnaire scale. However, only the Groningen sleep quality scale was suggestive of significant post-test comparison for Mackworth test, Correct trials/total test ratio (ANOVA test: f ratio – 2.6, p value – 0.07) between Normal (G1) andIntermediate (G2) with p value – 0.03 andNormal (G1) andDisturbed sleep groups (G3) with p value – 0.03. Also, the correlation between sleep duration and Corsi span suggested weak positive correlation with R value-0.180 and p value-0.07. Conclusion:Sleep related problems are very common among the youth and it may result in cognitive impairment. The current study did not find any significant comparison between different sleep groups for Corsi span. The Mackworth tests-correct/total ratio found significant between group comparison for only the GSQS scale. Participants with normal sleep gave more correct trials than their other counterparts implying that they had a more refreshing previous night’s sleep.Only, a weak positive correlation was found between sleep duration and Corsi span. Sleep disturbance in young population needs to be adequately studied with more sleep scales and using other tests of cognitive function.

Insomnia, Sleep scales, Cognitive test