Reducing Nitric Oxide in the Brain makes All-Nighters Easier

http://www.childrenshospital.org/newsroom/Site1339/mainpageS1339P1sublevel238.html

In this article, published by the Children's Hospital of Boston, researchers studied the effects of nitric oxide on the brain. They found that nitric oxide produced in the basal forebrain stimulates the production of adenosine, which evenutally causes one to go into "recovery" sleep, which is what happens after you have been up for a while. Therefore, the reduction in the prodcution of nitric oxide will put off the sleep urge, making it easier for those that need to stay awake (soldiers, doctors, pilots, trucks, parents of newborns) to stay awake.

Though this seems promising to help keep these people who need it, the article says nothing about how the lack of sleep would effect function. Would these people still be as alert as they need to be? or would they just be awake and be of no use because of lack of rest? Also, the article does not say how long sleep can be prolonged effectively. More research needs to be done before this can go out of the lab and into society.