Is sleeping less than 6 hours a night the equivalent to being drunk?

We've all been there - it's late, you're exhausted, but sleep just won't come. You toss and turn, check the clock every few minutes, and the longer you're awake, the more anxious you feel about how little rest you're going to get. Morning comes, and even though you're barely functioning, you drag yourself out of bed, grab a coffee, and stumble through the day in a fog. And it’s not just your imagination. When you sleep less than six hours a night, your brain starts to operate as if you were legally drunk. What do researchers mean by "drunk"? Why compare sleep deprivation to alcohol? In under 3 minutes, we answer your questions! To listen to the last episodes, you can click here: ⁠Why do people say that black cats bring bad luck?⁠ ⁠What are the dirtiest objects in your home?⁠ ⁠Why do we get travel sick?⁠ A Bababam Originals podcast written and realised by Joseph Chance. First broadcast : 06/2025 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices