Why do we become irritable when we have a lack of sleep?

Why do we become irritable when we have a lack of sleep?

Chris Idzikowski (Director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre) gives expert video advice on: What is sleep deprivation?; What is sleep restriction?; Does sleep deprivation have cumulative effect? and more...

There is a certain degree of higher order functions that are affected by sleep deprivation. Irritability and hostility tends to be something that we prevent happening in society, so if higher order functions are a bit impaired that sort of behavior is released more readily.