The Neurocognitive Effects of Total and Partial Sleep Deprivation in Younger Adults.

N/ANot Yet RecruitingNCT07822009

Örebro University, Sweden24 enrolled

Overview

This study aims to examine how total and partial sleep deprivation affect brain function, cognitive performance, and biomarkers related to stress and inflammation in the same participants using a crossover design. The study will also compare the effects of total and partial sleep deprivation to determine whether these conditions affect the brain and body differently. The findings may improve our understanding of the consequences of sleep deprivation and help inform strategies to reduce its negative impact on health and society. * How does total versus partial sleep deprivation affect brain activity during rest and cognitive tasks? * How does sleep deprivation affect functional connectivity between brain networks? * How does sleep deprivation affect working memory, attention, and executive control? * How does sleep deprivation affect biomarkers of stress and inflammation, such as cortisol? * Are changes in brain activity and connectivity associated with changes in cognitive performance and biological markers? * Can combining MRI-based and non-MRI-based measures provide a more complete picture of the effects of sleep deprivation? Participants will complete three study conditions in a randomized order: Total Sleep Deprivation (TSD): 28 to 32 hours of continuous wakefulness. Partial Sleep Deprivation (PSD): sleep restricted to 4 hours per night for two consecutive nights. Normal Sleep (control condition): a night of habitual sleep without sleep restriction.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

BASIC_SCIENCE

Masking

NONE

Enrollment

Conditions

Sleep Deprivation

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 20 YearsMax age: 40 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Signed informed consent prior to any study-related procedures. * Age 20 to 40 years. * Normal weight at screening, defined as a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. * Willingness to comply with the study protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Current diagnosis of a psychiatric or neurological disorder or syndrome. * Current diagnosis of another medical condition that limits study participation. * Diagnosed sleep disorder (e.g., insomnia). * Self-reported poor sleep quality (\>5 on the PSQI). * Working permanent night shifts or rotating night shifts. * Use of medications or dietary supplements considered likely to affect the study outcome measures (e.g., melatonin). * Extremely high perceived stress (\>26 on the PSS). * Sleep apnea. * Excessive alcohol consumption (\>9 standard drinks per week or \>3 standard drinks per occasion). * Extreme morningness or eveningness (\>69 or \<31 on the MEQ). * Excessive daytime sleepiness (\>10 on the ESS). * Lifestyle factors that may contribute to fragmented sleep (e.g., being a parent of young children). * MRI contraindications: claustrophobia; shunts in the head; bullet fragments or metal fragments in the body; metal implants or electrodes in the body; left-handedness; previous head surgery; previous heart surgery; or ingestion of a video capsule that may remain in the gastrointestinal tract. * Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, makes participation inappropriate.

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Brain functional activity and connectivity (PVT)

Compare normal sleep to SD (total and partial)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Secondary Outcomes

Brain functional activity and connectivity (PVT) - SD

Compare total sleep deprivation and partial sleep deprivation.

Time frame: 3 weeks

Brain functional activity and connectivity (NBACK)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Brain functional activity and connectivity (MST)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Brain functional activity and connectivity (SST)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Brain functional activity and connectivity (EMOREG)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Resting state fMRI

Total SD vs Partial SD

Time frame: 3 weeks

Structural MRI

Total SD vs. Partial SD

Time frame: 3 weeks

Diffusion tensor imaging

Total SD vs Partial SD

Time frame: 3 weeks

Cognitive function (NBACK)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Cognitive function (MST)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Cognitive function (SST)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Cognitive function (EMOREG)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Levels of inflammatory markers (e.g. high sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), interleukin (IL)-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)-alpha)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Levels of neural function markers (e.g. brain derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Salivary biomarkers (e.g., melatonin and cortisol)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Electrophysiological measures (e.g., ECG)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of psychological health using Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of psychological health using Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of psychological health using Perceived Stress Scale (PSS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of subjective sleepiness using the Karolinska Sleepiness Scale (KSS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of sleep quality and sleep disturbances using the Karolinska Sleep Questionnaire (KSQ)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of daytime sleepiness using the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

Assessment of chronotype (morningness-eveningness preference) using the Reduced Morningness-Eveningness Questionnaire (rMEQ)

Time frame: 1

Assessment of sleep-related positive and negative affect using the Negative and Positive Affect Scale for Sleep (NAP-AS)

Time frame: 3 weeks

The Neurocognitive Effects of Total and Partial Sleep Deprivation in Younger Adults.

Overview

Conditions

Interventions

Eligibility

Locations (1)

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Secondary Outcomes