Investigating how sleep loss affects emotion regulation
Official title: The Impact of Insufficient Sleep and Insomnia Disorder on Behavioral and Neural Markers of Emotion Regulation
Run by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · NCT05393830 · Data updated 2026-11-12
This study is testing how losing sleep for three nights affects people's ability to handle their emotions compared to those with insomnia and healthy individuals.
Quick facts
| Study type | Interventional |
|---|---|
| Ages | 18 Years to 40 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Enrollment | 90 (estimated) |
| Sponsor | Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center Academic / other |
| Locations | 1 site (Boston, Massachusetts) |
| Status | Recruiting |
| Started | May 11, 2023 |
| Main results expected | April 1, 2027 |
| Study ends | July 31, 2027 |
| Registry record updated | April 14, 2026 |
| Trial ID | NCT05393830 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
Is this trial a fit for you?
✓Likely a good fit
Ideal candidates include individuals diagnosed with Insomnia Disorder and healthy adults who can participate in sleep restriction protocols.
✕Probably not a fit
Patients who are left-handed, ambidextrous, or using medications that affect sleep or cognition may not benefit from this study.
A plain-English reading of the study's rules. Only the study team can confirm whether you qualify.
What this trial studies
This study examines the effects of three nights of sleep restricted to 4 hours on emotional processing and regulation compared to individuals with Insomnia Disorder and healthy controls. The research aims to understand how sleep deprivation impacts the ability to perceive and manage emotional responses, utilizing fMRI and psychophysiological measures to assess neural and bodily reactions. By exploring these dynamics, the study seeks to fill gaps in understanding the relationship between sleep and emotional functioning.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into how improving sleep quality may enhance emotional regulation in individuals with sleep disturbances.
How similar studies have gone: Other studies have explored the effects of sleep on cognitive functions, but this specific investigation into emotional processing during sleep deprivation is relatively novel.
Who can join: the full rules
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
Inclusion Criteria: * willing and able to follow the protocol * willing and able to meet inclusion criteria for fMRI scanning * willing to refrain from alcohol and recreational drugs for the duration of the protocol * normal or corrected to normal vision is required Exclusion Criteria: * left-handedness or ambidexterity * the use of any drugs that could affect either sleep or cognitive functioning (e.g., prescription sleeping pills or antidepressants)
Where it's running
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Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Boston, Massachusetts, United States Recruiting
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Janet M Mullington, PhD — Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
- Study coordinator: Tony J Cunningham, PhD
- Email: acunnin4@BIDMC.Harvard.edu
- Phone: 617-667-3337
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How to take part
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Check the official listing on ClinicalTrials.gov for the latest contact details and recruitment status.
- Contact the study coordinator or principal investigator to ask for pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.