This meta-analysis examines the impact of short-term (less than 48 hours) total sleep deprivation (SD) on various cognitive domains, including simple attention, complex attention, working memory, processing speed, short-term memory, and reasoning. The study included 70 articles with 147 cognitive tests that met the inclusion criteria. Effect sizes ranged from small and nonsignificant to large, with significant differences observed across cognitive domains for both speed and accuracy measures. However, no differences were found between speed and accuracy measures within each domain. Only time awake was a significant moderator of between-study variability, specifically for accuracy measures. The findings suggest that short-term SD significantly impairs cognitive performance, with the largest effects observed in simple attention tasks. The study also highlights the importance of vigilance and sustained attention in understanding the real-world consequences of SD. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the negative effects of SD on cognitive function.This meta-analysis examines the impact of short-term (less than 48 hours) total sleep deprivation (SD) on various cognitive domains, including simple attention, complex attention, working memory, processing speed, short-term memory, and reasoning. The study included 70 articles with 147 cognitive tests that met the inclusion criteria. Effect sizes ranged from small and nonsignificant to large, with significant differences observed across cognitive domains for both speed and accuracy measures. However, no differences were found between speed and accuracy measures within each domain. Only time awake was a significant moderator of between-study variability, specifically for accuracy measures. The findings suggest that short-term SD significantly impairs cognitive performance, with the largest effects observed in simple attention tasks. The study also highlights the importance of vigilance and sustained attention in understanding the real-world consequences of SD. The theoretical implications of these findings are discussed, emphasizing the need for targeted interventions to mitigate the negative effects of SD on cognitive function.