Longitudinal Investigation of Sleep, Memory, and Brain Development Across the Nap Transition
University of Maryland, College Park
Summary
To examine the relations between sleep (nap transitions, sleep physiology), memory, and brain development longitudinally, the researchers will assess n=180 children (in order to acquire n=152 usable data sets) who are 36-54 months of age and habitual nappers at enrollment. In each wave, the researchers will assess memory, memory change over a nap and equivalent waking interval, sleep physiology of the nap, and brain structure and function (using Magnetic Resonance Imagining or MRI). Additionally, overnight sleep physiology will be assessed in all participants. Waves will take place approximately every 6 months. For all children, three waves will be collected. With these data, the researchers will address the following aims: * Examine neural markers that predict the sleep transition (Aim 1); * Examine changes in sleep-dependent memory processing (mnemonic discrimination) over both nap and overnight sleep intervals, across the sleep transition (Aim 2); * Examine changes in sleep microstructure in both nap and overnight sleep across the sleep transition (Aim 3) * Examine interrelations among brain, memory and sleep microstructure across the sleep transition (Aim 4)
Description
Child participants will be recruited from databases maintained at each university (see Human Subjects). Initially, parent-report will determine whether the child qualifies as a habitual napper, which will later be confirmed by actigraphy. In each wave, participants will then complete 3 sessions, 3-7 days apart. The first two sessions will consist of nap or wake promotion (counter-balanced, separated by one week) and memory assessments. The third session will consist of a visit to the university for the MRI scan. All of the participants will also have overnight sleep and overnight sleep-depende…
Eligibility
- Age range
- 3–5 years
- Sex
- All
- Healthy volunteers
- Yes
Inclusion Criteria: 1. 36-60 months at the time of enrollment 2. must be a habitual napper (defined as napping 5 or more days/week on average for the past month) 3. must sleep independently (not bedsharing; in order to maintain consistent sleep not interrupted by others) Exclusion Criteria: 1. diagnosis of any sleep disorder (other than mild parasomnia which is routine at this age) past or present (Child's Sleep Habit Questionnaire) 2. current use of psychotropic or sleep-altering medications (Developmental, Health, and Environment Questionnaire) 3. traveling beyond 1 time zone within 1 mon…
Interventions
- Behavioralnap
Children are nap promoted
Locations (2)
- University of MarylandCollege Park, Maryland
- University of MassachusettsAmherst, Massachusetts