1. Inquiry Question

How does sleep deprivation affect reaction time and decision-making in high-school athletes?

2. Why This Question Is of Interest to Me

I chose this topic because it’s something I deal with constantly. Balancing school, homework, and playing multiple sports means late nights and early mornings happen all the time, and I’ve definitely felt the physical and mental struggle of running on low sleep.

When you’re playing fast-moving sports like soccer, basketball, or volleyball, split-second choices matter. From personal experience, a lack of sleep makes everything feel a bit off. Your reaction times slow down, tracking the ball takes more effort, and making quick tactical decisions under pressure gets way harder.

For this inquiry project, I want to look into:

• How lack of sleep physically affects the nervous system and slows down visual reaction times.
• The specific impact of fatigue on focus and decision-making during high-pressure game situations.
• Practical ways student-athletes can manage sleep and recovery without falling behind on schoolwork.

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