Understanding how infants' sleep patterns affect their memory development
Official title: Function of biphasic sleep in infants
Funded at University of Massachusetts Amherst · NIH-10881777 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study looks at how sleep affects babies' thinking skills as they move from taking two naps to one, helping parents understand their little ones' sleep needs better, and it involves infants aged 9 to 15 months who will have their sleep and memory tested.
Quick facts
| Grant type | R01 grant |
|---|---|
| Study type | NIH-funded research |
| Funding institution | University of Massachusetts Amherst NIH-funded |
| Lab location | 1 site (Hadley, United States) |
| Project start | July 5, 2023 |
| Project end | June 30, 2028 |
| Funding year | 2024 |
| Award (this year) | $393,197 |
| NIH project number | 5R01HL169995-02 |
| Project ID | NIH-10881777 on NIH RePORTER |
Who could benefit from this research
✓Could help
Ideal candidates for this research are infants aged 9 to 15 months who are transitioning from two naps to one.
✕Less likely to help
Patients who are older than 15 months or those with significant sleep disorders may not benefit from this research.
What this research studies
This research investigates the role of sleep in infants' cognitive development, focusing on the transition from two naps to one. By examining how multiple sleep bouts contribute to memory consolidation, the study aims to provide insights that can help parents understand their infants' sleep needs. Infants aged 9 to 15 months will participate in sessions that include sleep monitoring and memory tasks to assess how napping influences memory retention. The research employs advanced techniques like actigraphy and polysomnography to gather data on sleep patterns and brain activity.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this research could provide valuable guidance to parents on optimizing their infants' sleep for better cognitive outcomes.
How similar studies have gone: Previous research has shown that sleep plays a crucial role in memory consolidation, suggesting that this approach could yield significant insights.
Where this research is happening
-
University of Massachusetts Amherst
Hadley, United States Active
Researchers
- Principal investigator: Spencer, Rebecca M C — University of Massachusetts Amherst
- Study coordinator: Spencer, Rebecca M C
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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.