No first-night sleep problems after a night of main sleep and a 1-hour afternoon nap

A 1-hour afternoon nap before the first night shift may equalize neurobehavioural performance with the second night shift.

• Neurobehavioural impairment is typically worse on the first night shift compared to subsequent shifts.
• Twelve male volunteers with a mean age of 22.9 years participated in the study.
• Participants underwent a laboratory simulation of two 12-hour night shifts.
• Neurobehavioural performance and subjective sleepiness were measured during both shifts.
• No significant differences in performance or sleepiness were observed between the first and second night shifts.

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