How lack of sleep affects emotional control and brain function
Official title: The Impact of Insufficient Sleep and Insomnia Disorder on Behavioral and Neural Markers of Emotion Regulation
Funded at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NIH-11090358 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how not getting enough sleep or having insomnia affects how people manage their emotions, comparing those with insomnia to healthy individuals who also struggle with sleep, to better understand how sleep problems can impact emotional well-being.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Boston, United States) |
| Project start | June 15, 2022 |
| Project end | May 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $158,231 |
| NIH project number | 5K23MH127464-04 |
| Project ID | NIH-11090358 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include adults aged 21 and older who experience insomnia or chronic sleep deprivation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who do not have sleep disturbances or emotional regulation issues may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the effects of insufficient sleep and insomnia on how individuals regulate their emotions. It aims to understand the differences in emotional responses between those with clinical insomnia and healthy individuals who experience multiple nights of inadequate sleep. By examining behavioral and neural markers during emotion regulation tasks, the study seeks to uncover the underlying mechanisms that link sleep disruption to emotional dysregulation. This research is particularly important as it addresses a significant gap in knowledge regarding the chronic effects of sleep loss on emotional health.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to improved treatments for emotional disorders linked to sleep issues.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the relationship between sleep and emotional regulation, but this study aims to explore a less tested chronic sleep disruption model.
Where this research is happening
-
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cunningham, Tony J — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Cunningham, Tony J
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About this research
- This is an active NIH-funded research project — typically early-stage science, not a clinical trial accepting patient enrollment.
- Some NIH-funded labs run parallel clinical studies or seek volunteers for related work. To check, contact the principal investigator or institution listed above.
- For full project details, budget, and progress reports, visit the official NIH RePORTER page.