Final answer:
The example that best captures the concept of sleep debt is b) Sleeping for 12 hours on weekends to catch up on lost sleep during the week. It signifies trying to make up for insufficient sleep during the workweek, which directly correlates with the definition of sleep debt.
Step-by-step explanation:
The concept of sleep debt represents the cumulative effect of not getting enough sleep over a period of time. Of the options provided, the one that best captures the concept of sleep debt is: b) Sleeping for 12 hours on weekends to catch up on lost sleep during the week. This behavior indicates an attempt to repay the sleep that was missed during the weekdays, which is directly related to the idea of sleep debt.
When individuals do not achieve the recommended 7-9 hours of sleep each night, they are likely to incur a sleep debt, experiencing decreased alertness, mental efficiency, and even more severe consequences such as depression-like symptoms, obesity, increased blood pressure, and reduced immune functioning. Catching up on lost sleep during weekends is a common practice, especially among college students and other adults who may not get enough sleep due to their busy schedules and stress.