Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms and Sleep Project 2
University of Pittsburgh
Summary
Adolescence is a time of heightened reward sensitivity and greater impulsivity. On top of this, many teenagers experience chronic sleep deprivation and misalignment of their circadian rhythms due to biological shifts in their sleep/wake patterns paired with early school start times. Many studies find that this increases the risk for substance use (SU). However, what impact circadian rhythm and sleep disruption either together or independently have on the neuronal circuitry that controls reward and cognition, or if there are interventions that might help to modify these disruptions is unknown. Project 2 (P2) of the CARRS center will test an innovative and mechanistic model of brain circuitry that uses multi-method approaches, takes a developmental perspective, and incorporates key sleep and reward constructs.
Description
Substance use (SU) and substance use disorders (SUD) pose devastating health, financial, and societal costs. The incidence of SU and SUDs increases across adolescence, making this sensitive developmental period one of both heightened risk-and heightened opportunity for prevention and intervention. However, to develop effective interventions investigators need to identify novel and modifiable risk factors and mechanisms for SUD. Sleep and circadian rhythm disturbances are such risk factors, and the reward system, with its increasing sensitivity during adolescence, provides a plausible mechanist…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 13–15 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: * Typically enrolled in a traditional high-school with synchronous learning (in-person or online synchronous learning, but not cyber- or home-schooling) \[school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic are an exception to this\] * Physically and psychiatrically healthy * Provision of written informed consent and assent * Additional inclusion criterion for Experimental protocol: Meets operational definition of late sleep timing (\>10:50PM habitual bedtime) Exclusion Criteria: * History of alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drug use in the past month, or greater than monthly use…
Interventions
- OtherIncrease morning bright light
Participants will wear Re-Timer bright glasses for 30 minutes each morning upon rising
- OtherDecrease evening blue light
Participants will wear tinted glasses that block blue wavelength light for 2 hours before bed
- BehavioralSleep Scheduling
Participants will advance their bedtime by 1.5 hours and regularize their wake time
- BehavioralMonitor sleep, mood, and substance use
Participants will complete smartphone-based sleep, mood, and substance use monitoring
Location
- Western Psychiatric HospitalPittsburgh, Pennsylvania