How teen sleep and body clocks shape reward, self-control, and substance-use risk
Circadian rhythms and homeostatic sleep regulation during adolescence: Implications for reward, cognitive control, and substance use risk
This project looks at whether teens' sleep patterns and internal body clocks change reward responses, self-control, and the chance of starting substance use.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Pittsburgh, United States) |
| Project ID | NIH-11198098 on NIH RePORTER |
What this research studies
You would take part as a teen who completes detailed sleep and circadian testing during lab visits. Participants follow a 36-hour '120-minute day' ultradian protocol with repeated 80-minute wake and 40-minute sleep periods so researchers can measure circadian rhythms and sleep pressure. You'll do behavioral tasks and questionnaires that test reward responses and cognitive control and report on sleep habits and substance use history. The team links these measures to understand how sleep timing, circadian alignment, and homeostatic sleep drive relate to substance-use risk in adolescence.
Who could benefit from this research
Good fit: Adolescents roughly 12–20 years old—especially early- to mid-teens with varying sleep timing and limited prior substance use—are the ideal participants.
Not a fit: Adults, very young children, and teens with advanced or treatment-seeking substance use disorders are unlikely to receive direct benefit from participation.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this work could point to sleep- and circadian-based ways to prevent or reduce substance use in teens.
How similar studies have performed: Prior studies have linked late sleep timing and circadian misalignment to higher substance use risk in adolescents, though tightly controlled ultradian lab protocols in teens are relatively uncommon.
Where this research is happening
Pittsburgh, United States
- University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh — Pittsburgh, United States (Active)
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Franzen, Peter L — University of Pittsburgh at Pittsburgh
- Study coordinator: Franzen, Peter L
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 below.