Research from Michigan State University’s Sleep and Learning Lab investigated the effects of sleep deprivation on cognition and memory. They found that while caffeine can boost attention even in sleep-deprived individuals, it cannot mitigate errors in complex tasks that involve a sequence of steps (placekeeping). Moreover, napping during the night doesn’t compensate for the negative cognitive impacts of sleep deprivation.
  

Key Points: 

1. Sleep deprivation leads to lapses in attention, making it harder for individuals to maintain focus even on simple tasks.
2. Placekeeping errors increase with sleep deprivation; for example, following a sequence of steps correctly becomes challenging.
3. While caffeine can help in maintaining attention, it does not reduce complex errors caused by sleep deprivation.
4. A majority of American adults use caffeine daily to combat sleepiness.
5. Nightly naps, even during the lowest alertness point in the circadian cycle, do not offset the cognitive deficits of an entire night of sleep deprivation.

Source: https://theconversation.com/can-coffee-or-a-nap-make-up-for-sleep-deprivation-a-psychologist-explains-why-theres-no-substitute-for-shut-eye-206847