Work

Experimental Sleep Restriction Blunts Positive Emotions and Aesthetic Experiences When Viewing Artwork

Year: 2026

Type: article

Abstract: ABSTRACT Sleep loss influences basic emotional and cognitive processes, but its impact on higher‐order naturalistic cognition, such as aesthetic judgements, is less understood. The current study primarily investigated whether experimental sleep restriction altered aesthetic evaluations of abstract artwork, and secondarily tested whether these evaluations were influenced by stereotypes associated with the listed artist's gender or ethnicity (Caucasian vs. African American). Sixty‐eight young adults (M age = 19.97, 52.94% female, 55.88% non‐Caucasian) completed a multi‐week, counterbalanced, crossover study under laboratory control. Following an adaptation night, participants completed both a mild sleep restriction condition (1:30 AM–7:00 AM) and a well‐rested condition (10:00 PM–07:00 AM). In the morning following the second night of each sleep condition, participants rated 12 abstract paintings, each of which was paired with a fictitious artist's name that was stereotypical of a specific gender (male/female) and ethnicity (Caucasian/African American). No effects or interactions were observed for artist names. Importantly, however, mild sleep restriction decreased ratings of painting likability and beauty. These effects were mediated by sleepiness/alertness and positive mood state. The findings suggest that mild sleep restriction compromises the aesthetic experience of viewing artwork.

Source: Journal of Sleep Research

DOI: 10.1111/jsr.70451

Authors: Ariadne D. Godinho, Chenlu Gao, Michelle R. Hebl, Michael K. Scullin

Institutions: Baylor University, Harvard University, Mass General Brigham, Rice University

Language: English

Topic: Sleep and Work-Related Fatigue

Subfield: Experimental and Cognitive Psychology

Field: Psychology

Domain: Social Sciences

SDG: Good health and well-being

Open Access status: hybrid

Estimated APC paid: $4,340