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Sleep Deprivation Compensation

Meaning

Sleep Deprivation Compensation refers to the complex physiological and behavioral adjustments, both inherent and therapeutically induced, that the body attempts to implement in order to mitigate the acute and chronic negative consequences of insufficient or fragmented sleep. This compensation manifests as a heightened homeostatic sleep drive, measurable alterations in rhythmic hormonal secretion patterns, and a temporary increase in cognitive effort to maintain functional performance. While the body initiates recovery efforts, true compensation is frequently incomplete, often resulting in a measurable, accumulated sleep debt and systemic dysregulation.