Investigating how local sleep affects mental fatigue
Official title: Local sleep and mental fatigue
Funded at University of Wisconsin-Madison · NIH-11045769 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is looking at how not getting enough sleep and heavy studying can make you feel tired and less sharp mentally, and it aims to find out how certain brain cells are involved in this process, so we can learn how to help improve sleep and reduce mental fatigue for everyone.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Wisconsin-Madison NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Madison, United States) |
| Project start | March 1, 2024 |
| Project end | November 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2025 |
| Award (this year) | $497,582 |
| NIH project number | 5R01NS131389-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-11045769 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research include individuals experiencing mental fatigue due to neurological or psychiatric disorders, as well as healthy individuals who have undergone intense learning or sleep deprivation.
✕Less likely to help
Patients with stable mental health and no history of sleep disorders or cognitive impairment may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research explores the relationship between local sleep and mental fatigue, particularly how sleep deprivation and intense learning can lead to feelings of exhaustion and cognitive impairment. It aims to understand the neural mechanisms behind mental fatigue by examining the activity of specific brain cells during wakefulness. The study will involve both animal models and human participants to identify how local neuronal inactivity can impact cognitive performance. By improving our understanding of these processes, the research seeks to find ways to alleviate mental fatigue through better sleep quality.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could lead to new strategies for improving mental fatigue in patients with neurological and psychiatric conditions.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown promising results in understanding the effects of sleep on cognitive function, suggesting that this approach could yield valuable insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Wisconsin-Madison
Madison, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Cirelli, Chiara — University of Wisconsin-Madison
- Study coordinator: Cirelli, Chiara
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Telehealth exercise program to help rural breast cancer survivors fight fatigue
A telehealth exercise program is being tested to reduce cancer-related fatigue in rural breast cancer survivors.
-
DESCANSO: A friendly CBT plan to ease depression, sleep problems, and fatigue in Latino cancer patients
A Spanish-speaking CBT program called DESCANSO is being tested to help Latino cancer patients feel less tired, sleep better, and happier.
-
Time-restricted eating for fatigue and frailty in people with cancer
A 12-week study will test whether eating within a daily 10-hour window helps reduce fatigue and slow frailty in people living with advanced cancer.
-
Gut microbiome imbalance linked to brain fog and fatigue after COVID-19
A study will explore whether shifts in gut bacteria after COVID-19 contribute to brain fog and fatigue and how this relationship could point to new treatments.
-
Human Herpesvirus 6B and ME/CFS: does the virus cause or follow immune problems?
A study to see if HHV-6B reactivation is a cause or result of immune problems in people with ME/CFS, using long-term follow-up and biosamples from patients and controls.
-
Understanding fatigue in COVID-19 and beyond
This grant aims to uncover why fatigue happens in people after COVID-19 and in other conditions, using new brain and body measurements to find clearer targets for treatment.
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.