This study will explore the relationship between sleep, learning, cognition, mood and behaviour in children with Tic Disorders (Tourette Syndrome and Chronic Tic Disorder) compared to typically developing peers.
This project explores the relationship between sleep and learning in childhood with tic disorders, such as Tourette syndrome (TS) and chronic tic disorders (CTD). TS/CTD are movement disorders characterized by repetitive involuntary movements and/or vocalizations called tics. Sleep related problems are commonly reported for children with TS/CTD and may include problems getting to sleep, waking up frequently during the night, early wakening and tic-related movements in sleep. For typically developing children, sleep disturbances have been linked to problems with mood, behaviour and learning. To date, the relationship between sleep and learning has not been explored for children with TS/CTD. The aim of this project is to investigate whether there is a relationship between sleep efficiency and learning in boys with and without TS/CTD aged 11-14 years. Sleep efficiency will be measured using a small actigraphy watch, which will collect information about movements during sleep, night time waking and light exposure. Children will be required to wear the watch for 14 days and nights. Before one night of sleep and again the next morning, children will be asked to complete some tasks on an iPad Air to assess learning. These include 1) 'popping' balloons with faces on them according to specific rules (e.g. boys faces, happy faces), 2) learning novel animal names, 3) navigating a 3D maze. Children will also be administered some standard tests to look at level of intellectual functioning, memory and other thinking skills that may contribute to performance on the computerized tasks. Additionally, children and their parents will be asked to complete questionnaires to assess tics, quality of life, mood and behaviour. The findings of this study will help improve understanding of sleep problems for children with tic disorders to aid the development of specific interventions for this group.
Study Type
OBSERVATIONAL
Enrollment
32
Actigraphy watch to be worn on participants' wrist for 14 days and nights
Novel iPad-administered learning tasks, to be completed one evening and the next morning during actigraphy monitoring period.
Evelina Children's Hospital, St Thomas' Hospital
London, United Kingdom
Relationship between sleep efficiency/duration and cognitive learning
Time frame: 14 days
Cognitive functioning
A range of cognitive measures will be used to assess general level of intellectual functioning and cognitive skills that are hypothesised to contribute to performance on the SleepSuite learning tasks (including memory, attention, visuo-motor co-ordination and phonological awareness).
Time frame: Within the 14 days of the study
Mood and behavioural functioning
A range of self- and parent-report questionnaires will be used to measure participants' mood and behaviour and to see whether these relate to the primary outcome measures of sleep and cognitive learning.
Time frame: Within the 14 days of the study
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