Improving emotion regulation through better sleep for individuals with mild traumatic brain injury
Official title: RESET: Regulation of Emotion, Sleep Extension, and mTBI
Funded at Merrimack College · NIH-11041608 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how taking mid-day naps can help people who have recently had a mild brain injury feel and manage their emotions better, by comparing how they respond emotionally after napping versus not napping.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R15 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Merrimack College NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (North Andover, United States) |
| Project start | January 1, 2025 |
| Project end | December 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $403,937 |
| NIH project number | 1R15MH136612-01A1 |
| Project ID | NIH-11041608 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are adults aged 21 and older who have sustained a mild traumatic brain injury within the last month.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who have not experienced a mild traumatic brain injury or those with chronic sleep disorders unrelated to mTBI may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates how enhancing sleep quality, particularly through mid-day naps, can help individuals who have recently experienced a mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI) manage their emotions better. The study will involve participants completing tasks that assess their emotional responses after taking a nap compared to when they do not nap. By measuring both their behavioral reactions and self-reported feelings, the research aims to understand the impact of sleep on emotional regulation in this population.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide a simple and effective method for alleviating anxiety and emotional dysregulation in individuals recovering from mTBI.
How similar studies have gone: While there is existing research on sleep and emotional regulation, this specific approach of using napping for mTBI patients is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Where this research is happening
-
Merrimack College
North Andover, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Kurdziel, Laura — Merrimack College
- Study coordinator: Kurdziel, Laura
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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.