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Alertness is a state of active attention characterized by high sensory awareness. Someone who is alert is vigilant and promptly meets danger or emergency, or is quick to perceive and act. Alertness is a psychological and physiological state.
Lack of alertness is a symptom of a number of conditions, including narcolepsy, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, chronic fatigue syndrome, depression, Addison's disease, and sleep deprivation. Pronounced lack of alertness is an altered level of consciousness. States with low levels of alertness include drowsiness.
The word is formed from "alert", which comes from the Italian all'erta (on the watch, literally: on the height; 1618).
Wakefulness refers mainly to differences between the sleep and waking states; vigilance refers to sustained alertness and concentration. Both terms are sometimes used synonymously with alertness.
Wakefulness depends on the coordinated effort of multiple brain areas. These are affected by neurotransmitters and other factors. Many Neurotransmitters are in effect to experience wakefulness to include GABA, Acetylcholine, Adenosine, Serotonin, Norepinephrine, Histamine, and Dopamine. There is not an isolated neurotransmitter that alone is responsible for the sensation of wakefulness. However, it is known that many transmitters are used together to cause this effect. Research to map the wakefulness circuitry is ongoing.
Beta wave has been used as an indicator of cortical arousal or alertness by several studies. A study also measured alertness with EEG data.
Additional information can be found on the neurobiology, neuroscience, brain, behavioral neuroscience, and neurotransmitter pages.
Various natural biochemicals and herbs may have similar anti-fatigue effects, such as rhodiola rosea. Various like bromantane have also been investigated as potential treatments for conditions where fatigue is a primary symptom. The theacrine and methylliberine are structurally similar to caffeine and preliminary research supports their pro-alertness effects.
During the Second World War, U.S. soldiers and aviators were given benzedrine, an amphetamine drug, to increase their alertness during long periods on duty. While air force pilots are able to use the drug to remain awake during combat flights, the use of amphetamines by commercial airline pilots is forbidden. British troops used 72 million amphetamine tablets in the second world war and the Royal Air Force used so many that "Methedrine won the Battle of Britain" according to one report.Grant, D.N.W.; Air Force, UK, 1944 American bomber pilots used amphetamines ("go pills") to stay awake during long missions. The Tarnak Farm incident, in which an American F-16 pilot killed several friendly Canadian soldiers on the ground, was blamed by the pilot on his use of amphetamine. A nonjudicial hearing rejected the pilot's claim.
Amphetamine is a common study aid among college and high-school students. Amphetamine increases energy levels, concentration, and motivation, allowing students to study for an extended period of time. These drugs are often acquired through diverted prescriptions of medication used to treat ADHD, acquired from fellow students, rather than illicitly produced drugs. Cocaine is also used to increase alertness, and is present in coca tea. (2025). 9789811317453, Springer. ISBN 9789811317453
The eugeroic modafinil has recently gained popularity with the US Military and other militaries.
is related to the quality of sleep (currently measured only by self-reported quality), positive emotional state (specifically self-report happiness), and age. There are genes that enable people to be apparently healthy and alert with little sleep. However, twin-pair analyses indicate that the genetic contribution to daytime alertness is small. Other factors such as natural light exposure and synchronicity with the [[circadian rhythm]] may matter as well.
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