Abstract
Sleep disturbances have been found to increase severity of core autism spectrum disorder (ASD) symptoms such as social and communication difficulties and repetitive behaviours. However, very little is known about the impact of sleep on cognitive functioning in ASD. A systematic literature search identified fifteen original studies meeting inclusion and quality assessment criteria. Inter-rater reliability was strong (kappa=0.73). Multiple cognitive functions were negatively affected by sleep disturbances in ASD. This had a significant impact on daily functioning, as well as impacting families/carers. Possible sleep interventions include behavioural/cognitive training, pharmacological treatment, and sensory interventions. Combining objective and subjective sleep measures would help in early diagnosis, which may contribute towards developing interventions to help those with ASD as well as carers and families.
This is a preview of subscription content, log in via an institution to check access.
Similar content being viewed by others
References
American Psychiatric Association. (2013). Diagnostic and statistical manual of mental disorders (5th ed.). American Psychiatric Publishing.
Başar, E. (2013). Brain oscillations in neuropsychiatric disease. Dialogues in Clinical Neuroscience, 15(3), 291–300. https://doi.org/10.31887/DCNS.2013.15.3/ebasar.
Benson, P. R. (2006). The impact of child symptom severity on depressed mood among parents of children with ASD: The mediating role of stress proliferation. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 36(5), 685–695. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-006-0112-3.
British Psychological Society. (2009). Code of ethics and conduct. British Psychological Society.
British Psychological Society. (2010). Code of human research ethics. British Psychological Society.
Bruni, O., Ferri, R., Vittori, E., Novelli, L., Vignati, M., Porfirio, M. C., et al. (2007). Sleep architecture and NREM alterations in children and adolescents with Asperger syndrome. Sleep, 30(11), 1577–1585. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/30.11.1577.
Chee, M. W., & Chuah, L. Y. (2008). Functional neuroimaging insights into how sleep and sleep deprivation affect memory and cognition. Current Opinion in Neurology, 21(4), 417–423. https://doi.org/10.1097/WCO.0b013e3283052cf7.
Cohen, S., Conduit, R., Lockley, S. W., Rajaratnam, S. M., & Cornish, K. M. (2014). The relationship between sleep and behaviour in autism spectrum disorder (ASD): A review. Journal of Neurodevelopmental Disorders, 6(1), 44–54. https://doi.org/10.1186/1866-1955-6-44.
Delahaye, J., Kovacs, E., Sikora, D., Hall, T. A., Orlich, F., Clemons, T. E., et al. (2014). The relationship between health-related quality of life and sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(3), 292–303. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2013.12.015.
Edinger, J. D., Bonnet, M. H., Bootzin, R. R., Doghramji, K., Dorsey, C. M., Espie, C. A., et al. (2004). Derivation of research diagnostic criteria for insomnia: Report of an American academy of sleep medicine workgroup. Sleep, 27(8), 1567–1596. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/27.8.1567.
Elia, M., Ferri, R., Musumeci, S. A., Del Gracco, S., Bottitta, M., Scuderi, C., et al. (2000). Sleep in subjects with autistic disorder: A neurophysiological and psychological study. Brain and Development, 22(2), 88–92. https://doi.org/10.1016/S0387-7604(99)00119-9.
Ellenbogen, J. M. (2005). Cognitive benefits of sleep and their loss due to sleep deprivation. Neurology, 64(7), E25–E27. https://doi.org/10.1212/01.wnl.0000164850.68115.81.
Elsabbagh, M., Divan, G., Koh, Y., Kim, Y. S., Kauchali, S., Marcín, C., et al. (2012). Global prevalence of autism and other pervasive developmental disorders. Autism Research, 5(3), 160–179. https://doi.org/10.1002/aur.239.
Gazzaniga, M., Ivry, R., & Mangun, G. (2009). Cognitive neuroscience: The biology of the mind (3rd ed.). Norton.
Goldman, S. E., Richdale, A. L., Clemons, T., & Malow, B. A. (2012). Parental sleep concerns in autism spectrum disorders: Variations from childhood to adolescence. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 42(4), 531–538. 1–538. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-011-1270-5.
Halstead, E. J., Joyce, A., Sullivan, E., Tywyn, C., Davies, K., Jones, A., & Dimitriou, D. (2021). Sleep disturbances and patterns in children with neurodevelopmental conditions. Frontiers in Pediatrics, 9(March), 91. https://doi.org/10.3389/fped.2021.637770.
Henry, A. L., Kyle, S. D., Bhandari, S., Chisholm, A., Griffiths, C. E., & Bundy, C. (2016). Measurement, classification and evaluation of sleep disturbance in psoriasis: A systematic review. PloS One, 11(6), e0157843. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.0157843.
Hill, A. P., Zuckerman, K. E., Hagen, A. D., Kriz, D. J., Duvall, S. W., van Santen, J., et al. (2014). Aggressive behaviour problems in children with autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence and correlates in a large clinical sample. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 8(9), 1121–1133. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2014.05.006.
Hollway, J. A., Aman, M. G., & Butter, E. (2013). Correlates and risk markers for sleep disturbance in participants of the autism treatment network. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 43(12), 2830–2843. https://doi.org/10.1007/s10803-013-1830-y.
Kmet, L., Lee, R., & Cook, L. (2004). Standard quality assessment criteria for evaluating primary research papers from a variety of fields. In Edmonton: Alberta Heritage Foundation for Medical Research (pp. 1–31). https://doi.org/10.7939/R37M04F16.
Koffel, E. A., Koffel, J. B., & Gehrman, P. R. (2015). A meta-analysis of group cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 19, 6–16. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.05.001.
Krakowiak, P., Goodlin-Jones, B., Hertz-Picciotto, I., Croen, L., & Hansen, R. (2008). Sleep problems in children with autism spectrum disorders, developmental delays, and typical development: A population-based study. Journal of Sleep Research, 17(2), 197–206. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2869.2008.00650.x.
Landrigan, C. P., Rothschild, J. M., Cronin, J. W., Kaushal, R., Burdick, E., Katz, J. T., et al. (2004). Effect of reducing interns’ work hours on serious medical errors in intensive care units. New England Journal of Medicine, 351(18), 1838–1848. https://doi.org/10.1056/NEJMoa041406.
Limoges, É., Bolduc, C., Berthiaume, C., Mottron, L., & Godbout, R. (2013). Relationship between poor sleep and daytime cognitive performance in young adults with autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 34(4), 1322–1335. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2013.01.013.
Maski, K., Holbrook, H., Manoach, D., Hanson, E., Kapur, K., & Stickgold, R. (2015). Sleep-dependent memory consolidation in children with autism spectrum disorder. Sleep, 38(12), 1955–1963. https://doi.org/10.5665/sleep.5248.
Miano, S., Bruni, O., Elia, M., Trovato, A., Smerieri, A., Verrillo, E., et al. (2007). Sleep in children with autistic spectrum disorder: A questionnaire and polysomnographic study. Sleep Medicine, 9(1), 64–70. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.sleep.2007.01.014.
Miller, C. B., Espie, C. A., Epstein, D. R., Friedman, L., Morin, C. M., Pigeon, W. R., et al. (2014). The evidence base of sleep restriction therapy for treating insomnia disorder. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 18(5), 415–424. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2014.01.006.
Moher, D., Liberati, A., Tetzlaff, J., & Altman, D. G. (2009). Preferred reporting items for systematic reviews and meta-analyses: The PRISMA statement. BMJ, 339. https://doi.org/10.1136/bmj.b2535.
Moore, M., Evans, V., Hanvey, G., & Johnson, C. (2017). Assessment of sleep in children with autism spectrum disorder. Children, 4(8), 72–89. https://doi.org/10.3390/children4080072.
Morgenthaler, T., Alessi, C., Friedman, L., Owens, J., Kapur, V., Boehlecke, B., et al. (2007). Practice parameters for the use of actigraphy in the assessment of sleep and sleep disorders: An update for 2007. Sleep, 30(4), 519–529. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/30.4.519.
Ohayon, M. M. (2002). Epidemiology of insomnia: What we know and what we still need to learn. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 6(2), 97–111. https://doi.org/10.1053/smrv.2002.0186.
Owens, J. A., Spirito, A., & McGuinn, M. (2000). The Children’s Sleep Habits Questionnaire (CSHQ): Psychometric properties of a survey instrument for school-aged children. Sleep, 23(8), 1043–1051. https://doi.org/10.1093/sleep/23.8.1d.
Oyane, N. M. F., & Bjorvatn, B. (2005). Sleep disturbances in adolescents and young adults with autism and Asperger syndrome. Autism: The International Journal of Research and Practice, 9(1), 83–94. https://doi.org/10.1177/1362361305049031.
Park, S., Cho, S., Cho, I. H., Kim, B., Kim, J., Shin, M., et al. (2012). Sleep problems and their correlates and comorbid psychopathology of children with autism spectrum disorders. Research in Autism Spectrum Disorders, 6(3), 1068–1072. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.rasd.2012.02.004.
Paron-Wildes, A. J. (2008). Sensory stimulation and autistic children. Implications, 6(4), 1–5.
Patzold, L., Richdale, A., & Tonge, B. (1998). An investigation into sleep characteristics of children with autism and Asperger’s disorder. Journal of Paediatrics and Child Health, 34(6), 528–533. https://doi.org/10.1046/j.1440-1754.1998.00291.x.
Polimeni, M., Richdale, A., & Francis, A. (2005). A survey of sleep problems in autism, Asperger’s disorder and typically developing children. Journal of Intellectual Disability Research, 49(4), 260–268. https://doi.org/10.1111/j.1365-2788.2005.00642.x.
Quist, H., Chaplin, E., & Hendey, O. (2015). Sleep intervention for adults with autism spectrum condition. Mental Health Practice, 18(10), 14–18. https://doi.org/10.7748/mhp.18.10.14.e937.
Richdale, A. L., & Schreck, K. A. (2009). Sleep problems in autism spectrum disorders: Prevalence, nature, & possible biopsychosocial aetiologies. Sleep Medicine Reviews, 13(6), 403–411. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2009.02.003.
Schreck, K. A., & Mulick, J. A. (2000). Parental report of sleep problems in children with autism. Journal of Autism and Developmental Disorders, 30(2), 127–135. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1005407622050.
Schreck, K. A., Mulick, J. A., & Rojahn, J. (2003). Development of the behavioural evaluation of disorders of sleep scale. Journal of Child and Family Studies, 12(3), 349–359. https://doi.org/10.1023/A:1023995912428.
Schreck, K. A., Mulick, J. A., & Smith, A. F. (2004). Sleep problems as possible predictors of intensified symptoms of autism. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 25(1), 57–66. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2003.04.007.
Squire, L. R. (1992). Memory and the hippocampus: a synthesis from findings with rats, monkeys, and humans. Psychological Review, 99(2), 195–231. https://doi.org/10.1037/0033-295X.99.2.195.
Squire, L. R. (2004). Memory systems of the brain: A brief history and current perspective. Neurobiology of Learning and Memory, 82(3), 171–177. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.nlm.2004.06.005.
Taylor, M. A., Schreck, K. A., & Mulick, J. A. (2012). Sleep disruption as a correlate to cognitive and adaptive behaviour problems in autism spectrum disorders. Research in Developmental Disabilities, 33(5), 1408–1417. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.ridd.2012.03.013.
Tudor, M. E., Hoffman, C. D., & Sweeney, D. P. (2012). Children with autism sleep problems and symptom severity. Focus on Autism and Other Developmental Disabilities, 27(4), 254–262. https://doi.org/10.1177/1088357612457989.
Wiggs, L., & Stores, G. (2004). Sleep patterns and sleep disorders in children with autistic spectrum disorders: Insights using parent report and actigraphy. Developmental Medicine and Child Neurology, 46(6), 372–380. https://doi.org/10.1017/S0012162204000611.
Williams, M., & Vouchilas, G. (2013). Residential design for families with children on the autism spectrum. Journal of Family & Consumer Sciences, 105(3), 33–43. https://doi.org/10.14307/JFCS105.3.9.
Author information
Authors and Affiliations
Corresponding author
Ethics declarations
Conflict of Interest
The authors declare no competing interests.
Additional information
This work has not been published before and it is not under consideration for publication elsewhere.
Publisher’s Note
Springer Nature remains neutral with regard to jurisdictional claims in published maps and institutional affiliations.
Supplementary Information
ESM 1
(DOCX 35 kb)
Rights and permissions
About this article
Cite this article
Shaw, A., Do, T.N.T., Harrison, L. et al. Sleep and Cognition in People with Autism Spectrum Condition: A Systematic Literature Review. Rev J Autism Dev Disord 9, 416–426 (2022). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-021-00266-7
Received:
Accepted:
Published:
Issue Date:
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40489-021-00266-7