David F. Dinges
Encyclopedia
David F. Dinges is a major American sleep
researcher and teacher.
He is Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology in the Department of Psychiatry, and Associate Director of the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology in the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
. Dinges earned his M.S. (1974) and Ph.D. (1976) degrees in Experimental Physiological Psychology from Saint Louis University
.
Dinges has served as President of the Sleep Research Society
, on the Boards of Directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
and the National Sleep Foundation
, as President of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies and as Editor-in-Chief of SLEEP
, the leading scientific journal on sleep research and sleep medicine.
His laboratory studies the physiological, cognitive and functional changes resulting from sleep loss
in humans. His research has primarily focused on the manner in which sleep homeostasis
and circadian rhythm
icity control cognitive, affective, behavioral, endocrine and immunological processes. Dinges' work has contributed to our knowledge of the effects of sleep disorders, the recovery potential of naps, the nature of sleep inertia and the impact of cumulative sleep debt
. He has developed technologies for monitoring human neurobehavioral capability, such as his patented Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT).
He has consulted with many U.S. agencies including the Department of Transportation
, National Institutes of Health
, NASA
and the military as well as several non-federal, private and foreign entities on the physiological and behavioral effects of sleep deprivation, and ways to mitigate these effects.
Dinges' CV in November 2007 showed 130 peer review
ed research publications dated 1972 to 2007 as well as more than 90 editorials, reviews, chapters and committee reports, 1978 to 2007. Together with R. J. Broughton, he edited Sleep and Alertness: Chronobiological, Behavioral and Medical Aspects of Napping, Raven Press, New York, 1989. Together with M. P. Szuba and J. D. Kloss, he edited Insomnia: Principles and Management, Cambridge University Press
, New York, 2003. Together with his colleague Siobhan Banks he co-wrote the chapter on sleep deprivation in Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine.
Videos of his short Science Network lectures Behaving without sleep: Biological limits on our environmental demands and Napping and Recovery at the Salk Institute, 09 and 10 February 2007, can be viewed online.
Sleep
Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than...
researcher and teacher.
He is Professor of Psychology in Psychiatry, Chief of the Division of Sleep and Chronobiology in the Department of Psychiatry, and Associate Director of the Center for Sleep and Respiratory Neurobiology in the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine
The Perelman School of Medicine , formerly the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine, was founded in 1765, making it the oldest American medical school. As part of the University of Pennsylvania, it is located in the University City section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It is widely...
. Dinges earned his M.S. (1974) and Ph.D. (1976) degrees in Experimental Physiological Psychology from Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University
Saint Louis University is a private, co-educational Jesuit university located in St. Louis, Missouri, United States. Founded in 1818 by the Most Reverend Louis Guillaume Valentin Dubourg SLU is the oldest university west of the Mississippi River. It is one of 28 member institutions of the...
.
Dinges has served as President of the Sleep Research Society
Sleep Research Society
The Sleep Research Society is an organization that promotes the science of sleep and related disorders. Additionally, the SRS is dedicated to the training and education of future sleep researchers.-Organization:...
, on the Boards of Directors of the American Academy of Sleep Medicine
American Academy of Sleep Medicine
The American Academy of Sleep Medicine is a United States professional society for the medical subspecialty of sleep medicine. It was established in 1975. The AASM is the only professional society that is dedicated exclusively to the medical subspecialty of sleep medicine...
and the National Sleep Foundation
National Sleep Foundation
The National Sleep Foundation is an independent nonprofit organization in the USA whose objectives are to improve public health and safety by achieving understanding of sleep and sleep disorders, and to support sleep-related education, research, and advocacy.Established in 1990, the NSF relies on...
, as President of the World Federation of Sleep Research and Sleep Medicine Societies and as Editor-in-Chief of SLEEP
Sleep
Sleep is a naturally recurring state characterized by reduced or absent consciousness, relatively suspended sensory activity, and inactivity of nearly all voluntary muscles. It is distinguished from quiet wakefulness by a decreased ability to react to stimuli, and is more easily reversible than...
, the leading scientific journal on sleep research and sleep medicine.
His laboratory studies the physiological, cognitive and functional changes resulting from sleep loss
Sleep deprivation
Sleep deprivation is the condition of not having enough sleep; it can be either chronic or acute. A chronic sleep-restricted state can cause fatigue, daytime sleepiness, clumsiness and weight loss or weight gain. It adversely affects the brain and cognitive function. Few studies have compared the...
in humans. His research has primarily focused on the manner in which sleep homeostasis
Homeostasis
Homeostasis is the property of a system that regulates its internal environment and tends to maintain a stable, constant condition of properties like temperature or pH...
and circadian rhythm
Circadian rhythm
A circadian rhythm, popularly referred to as body clock, is an endogenously driven , roughly 24-hour cycle in biochemical, physiological, or behavioural processes. Circadian rhythms have been widely observed in plants, animals, fungi and cyanobacteria...
icity control cognitive, affective, behavioral, endocrine and immunological processes. Dinges' work has contributed to our knowledge of the effects of sleep disorders, the recovery potential of naps, the nature of sleep inertia and the impact of cumulative sleep debt
Sleep debt
Sleep debt or sleep deficit is the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep. A large sleep debt may lead to mental and/or physical fatigue....
. He has developed technologies for monitoring human neurobehavioral capability, such as his patented Psychomotor Vigilance Test (PVT).
He has consulted with many U.S. agencies including the Department of Transportation
Department of Transportation
The Department of Transportation is the most common name for a government agency in North America devoted to transportation. The largest is the United States Department of Transportation, which oversees interstate travel. All U.S. states, Canadian provinces, and many local agencies also have...
, National Institutes of Health
National Institutes of Health
The National Institutes of Health are an agency of the United States Department of Health and Human Services and are the primary agency of the United States government responsible for biomedical and health-related research. Its science and engineering counterpart is the National Science Foundation...
, NASA
NASA
The National Aeronautics and Space Administration is the agency of the United States government that is responsible for the nation's civilian space program and for aeronautics and aerospace research...
and the military as well as several non-federal, private and foreign entities on the physiological and behavioral effects of sleep deprivation, and ways to mitigate these effects.
Dinges' CV in November 2007 showed 130 peer review
Peer review
Peer review is a process of self-regulation by a profession or a process of evaluation involving qualified individuals within the relevant field. Peer review methods are employed to maintain standards, improve performance and provide credibility...
ed research publications dated 1972 to 2007 as well as more than 90 editorials, reviews, chapters and committee reports, 1978 to 2007. Together with R. J. Broughton, he edited Sleep and Alertness: Chronobiological, Behavioral and Medical Aspects of Napping, Raven Press, New York, 1989. Together with M. P. Szuba and J. D. Kloss, he edited Insomnia: Principles and Management, Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press
Cambridge University Press is the publishing business of the University of Cambridge. Granted letters patent by Henry VIII in 1534, it is the world's oldest publishing house, and the second largest university press in the world...
, New York, 2003. Together with his colleague Siobhan Banks he co-wrote the chapter on sleep deprivation in Principles and Practice of Sleep Medicine.
Videos of his short Science Network lectures Behaving without sleep: Biological limits on our environmental demands and Napping and Recovery at the Salk Institute, 09 and 10 February 2007, can be viewed online.