The purpose of this study is to learn more about cannabis use, sleep, and stress, and whether there is any relationship between the three.
After passing a physical assessment and psychological screen, 60 participants will be enrolled. Ahead of the 21-day protocol participants will report to our laboratory sleep facilities and will be set-up to perform a full polysomnography test (monitored overnight sleep with equipment including superficial electrodes, heart rate \[HR\] monitor, breathing monitors). This initial night of sleep with study equipment is provided in order to reduce sleep differences based on sleeping in a new environment and the burden of wearing equipment while sleeping. Before and after this 8h sleep period participants will be introduced to all surveys and behavioral testing that will be used as part of the experimental nights. Participants who complete the familiarization night will be randomized to two different possible experimental protocols that differ in the length of the sleep period. In order to fully characterize cannabis use behaviors (frequency, amount, mode of use) on sleep in an individual's typical environment (i.e. in the places and during the activities of normal living), we will implement 21 days of activity monitoring via multiple daily surveys (which collectively is a research strategy known as Ecological Monitoring Assessment \[i.e., EMA\]) along with concurrent actigraphy, that is, the monitoring of movement via the use of a wrist-worn watch-like device. Approximately one-week into this observational period, participants will complete the 2 x 4-night experimental nights (consecutive nights) with a washout (return to habitual sleep patterns) of at least 6 days. Participants are able to spend the day outside of the laboratory during the experimental night period (i.e. they will come into the lab each night to sleep, and have their sleep monitored, but able to do normal activities during the days). Following in laboratory assessments, participants will complete any remaining at home assessments needed for 21 days of EMA/actigraphy.
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
SINGLE
Enrollment
60
After a baseline assessment of sleep, participants will undergo either 2 nights of restricted sleep (4 hour time in bed) followed by a recovery sleep, OR 3 nights of an extended sleep opportunity (10 hour time in bed)
Daily Cannabis Use Frequency
The number of smoking/vaping sessions per day.
Time frame: Assessed in surveys performed 4 times per day, and across the entire 21-day study
Wake After Sleep Onset (WASO)
Wake after sleep onset (measured in minutes) will be assessed each night from actigraphy; larger value indicates greater disruptions to sleep.
Time frame: 21 days
Cortisol Awakening Response
Salivary cortisol levels assessed as the difference between waking and peak levels assessed \~30-45 minutes after awakening.
Time frame: 8 nights
Wake After Sleep Onset (Polysomnography)
Wake after sleep onset (measured in minutes) will be assessed each night of the in laboratory study using polysomnography \[PSG\]); larger value indicates greater disruptions to sleep.
Time frame: 8 nights
Sleep Latency
Measured in minutes and assessed each night of the in laboratory study using polysomnography; assessed at time from in bed and lights off to any stage of sleep including Non rapid eye movement (NREM) 1.
Time frame: 8 nights
Total Sleep Time
Measured (in minutes)from actigraphy (21 days of data) and in laboratory study using polysomnography (8 nights of data).
Time frame: up to 21 days
Sleep Macroarchitecture
Non rapid eye movement (NREM) 1-3 and Rapid eye movement (REM), time and %, assessed each night of the in laboratory study using polysomnography.
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Time frame: 8 nights
Sleep Microarchitecture
Delta power, theta power, and alpha power during quiet wakefulness and sleep assessed during the in laboratory study using polysomnography.
Time frame: 8 nights
Median Reaction Time
Assessed from a 10 minute psychomotor vigilance test approximately hourly during the in laboratory component of the study; larger value indicates reduced vigilance.
Time frame: 8 days
Time to NREM1 Sleep (modified Maintenance of Wakefulness)
Assessment of sleep pressure using a modified Maintenance of Wakefulness test provided approximately hourly during the in laboratory component of the study.
Time frame: 8 days
Subjective Sleepiness
Assessed 4-5 times/day as part of the Ecological Monitoring Assessment (EMA) and approximately hourly during the in laboratory component of the study using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS). The KSS uses a 9-point scale with 1 = extremely alert and 9 = extremely sleepy - fighting sleep.
Time frame: 21 days
Pre-Ejection Period
Using continuous electrocardiogram (EKG) during the in laboratory portion of the study we will calculate the interval between the Q wave on the EKG signal and the B point on the dZ/dt signal.
Time frame: 8 days
Sleep High Frequency Heart Rate Variability (HRV)
Assessed from continuous EKG during the in laboratory portion of the study, high frequency (HF; 0.15-0.4 Hz) HRV will be calculated by passing R-R intervals through a fast Fourier power spectral analysis on all 2-minute periods of nocturnal EKG of stable PSG identified sleep.
Time frame: 8 nights
Mood
Daily assessments of mood will be collected during the EMA using abbreviated versions of Profile of Mood States (POMS) with each mood description rated on a 5-point scale between not at all (0) to extremely (4).
Time frame: 21 days
Cannabis Use Composite Score
Composite score based on daily frequency of use, amount of use, time of use, and method of use.
Time frame: 21 days
Positive Affect
Daily assessments of positive affect will be collected during the EMA using The Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS) scales with values ranging from 10-50 (high score representing higher levels of positive affect).
Time frame: 21 days
Negative Affect
Daily assessments of negative affect will be collected during the EMA using the PANAS with values ranging from 10-50 (lower scores representing lower levels of negative affect).
Time frame: 21 days
Sleep Low Frequency HRV
Assessed from continuous EKG during the in laboratory portion of the study, low frequency (LF; 0.04-0.15 Hz) HRV will be calculated by passing R-R intervals through a fast Fourier power spectral analysis on all 2-minute periods of nocturnal EKG of stable PSG identified sleep.
Time frame: 8 nights
Sleep Normalized HF Power
Normalized HF power is calculated by dividing integrated HF spectra by the total power (LF+HF) and multiplying by 100.
Time frame: 8 nights
Sleep standard deviation of the R-R interval of normal sinus beats (SDNN)
Time domain HRV will be expressed using the standard deviation of the R-R interval of normal sinus beats (SDNN) during stable 2-minute segments of sleep.
Time frame: 8 nights
Area under the curve of the CAR
Total amount of cortisol secreted after awakening assessed using the trapezoidal rule to assess area under the curve from waking to 60 minutes post waking saliva cortisol levels.
Time frame: 8 nights