Sleep and ASD: Understanding how sleep problems relate to autism symptoms
Official title: Center for Sleep in Autism Spectrum Disorder
Funded at Stanford University · NIH-11408795 · Data updated 2026-11-12
A Stanford team is studying whether sleep problems contribute to and worsen autism symptoms in children and how improving sleep could help.
Quick facts
| Grant type | NIH-funded research |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | Stanford University NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Stanford, United States) |
| Project start | September 6, 2022 |
| Project end | August 31, 2027 |
| Funding year | 2026 |
| Award (this year) | $1,945,940 |
| NIH project number | 5P50HD109861-05 |
| Project ID | NIH-11408795 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates are children with ASD aged 4–17 who can participate in sleep studies and wearables, and age-matched TD controls.
✕Less likely to help
Children who cannot participate in sleep assessments or have conditions that preclude study procedures may not benefit.
What this research studies
This project brings together human studies and animal models to explore how sleep patterns affect brain development and ASD symptoms in children aged 4 to 17. Researchers will analyze sleep timing, fragmentation, and EEG data to see how these factors relate to core ASD features, using both sleep measurements and behavioral assessments. The study includes 150 children with ASD and 75 typically developing peers to identify sleep-related pathways that may influence daytime functioning and behavior.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, findings could lead to better sleep-based strategies that improve cognitive and behavioral outcomes for children with ASD.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research shows sleep problems are common in ASD and may relate to symptoms, but this project aims to clarify causal links.
Where this research is happening
-
Stanford University
Stanford, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Hallmayer, Joachim F — Stanford University
- Study coordinator: Hallmayer, Joachim F
Related research
Other NIH-funded projects on the same topics.
-
Understanding brain signals in autism to identify biologically distinct subtypes
This study uses EEG to link how the brain processes sensory information with behavior in young children with autism and related concerns.
-
Paternal exposures and sperm epigenetics linked to autism in children
This project looks at how a father's environment and health before conception might influence autism risk in his children.
-
Anxiety Management for Young Children with Autism
A study at a major hospital will test a medication called buspirone in young children with autism to see if it helps reduce anxiety.
-
Sleep problems in autism and daily functioning
A large study at a major university is looking at how sleep problems affect children with autism and their daily lives.
-
Canine-assisted addition to group therapy for emotion dysregulation in kids with autism
A study will test whether adding animal-assisted therapy to a proven group treatment helps reduce emotion dysregulation in children with autism.
-
Modulating how the brain processes thinking about others in autism with noninvasive brain stimulation
This project tests whether a noninvasive brain treatment (rTMS) can adjust brain activity linked to understanding others’ thoughts and feelings in adults with autism.
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.