Study of brain activity during sleep using fMRI and EEG
An All-Night Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging Sleep Study With Auditory Stimuli
This study is testing how the brain reacts to sounds while we sleep by using special scans on healthy young adults to learn more about sleep and brain connections.
Quick facts
| Study type | Observational |
|---|---|
| Enrollment | 2378 (estimated) |
| Ages | 18 Years to 34 Years |
| Sex | All |
| Sponsor | National Institutes of Health Clinical Center (CC) NIH |
| Locations | 1 site (Bethesda, Maryland) |
| Trial ID | NCT02629107 on ClinicalTrials.gov |
What this trial studies
This study aims to measure brain activity during sleep by utilizing functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI) in conjunction with electroencephalography (EEG). Healthy participants aged 18 to 34 will undergo a series of assessments, including physical and hearing exams, followed by all-night fMRI scans to observe brain activity in response to auditory stimuli. The goal is to correlate fMRI findings with auditory arousal thresholds, thereby enhancing our understanding of sleep behavior and brain connectivity. This research addresses a gap in existing literature regarding the relationship between sleep and auditory arousal.
Who should consider this trial
Good fit: Ideal candidates for this study are healthy individuals aged 18 to 34 who can comfortably sleep on their back for several hours.
Not a fit: Patients with sleep disorders, psychiatric or neurological conditions, or those who cannot undergo MRI due to medical implants will not benefit from this study.
Why it matters
Potential benefit: If successful, this study could provide insights into the mechanisms of sleep and improve our understanding of sleep disorders.
How similar studies have performed: While studies using fMRI to investigate brain activity during sleep are emerging, this specific approach correlating fMRI with auditory arousal thresholds is novel and has not been extensively tested.
Eligibility criteria
Show full inclusion / exclusion criteria
* INCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. able to give informed consent; 2. in good general heath; 3. between the ages of 18 and 34 years; 4. able to sleep on your back for several hours (with breaks). EXCLUSION CRITERIA: 1. have a medical condition like diabetes or uncontrolled hypertension; 2. have a psychiatric or neurologic condition like depression or stroke; 3. have ever had a seizure; 4. have a sleep disorder like insomnia or sleep apnea; 5. work night shifts; 6. have metal in your body such as pacemakers, metal prostheses, or aneurysm clips that would make MRI scanning unsafe; 7. are pregnant or nursing; 8. drink too much caffeine (6 or more cups of coffee per day or 10 or more cups of caffeinated soda per day); 9. use too much alcohol (15 or more alcoholic beverages per week for men and 8 or more alcoholic beverages per week for women); 10. use too much nicotine (nicotine use within 30 minutes of waking); 11. are afraid of enclosed spaces; 12. have known hearing problems; 13. regularly use a prescription or over-the-counter drug to help you sleep or stay awake; 14. are an employee, contractor, or volunteer of the Laboratory of Functional and Molecular Imaging in the National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke.
Where this trial is running
Bethesda, Maryland
- National Institutes of Health Clinical Center — Bethesda, Maryland, United States (Recruiting)
Study contacts
- Principal investigator: Jeffrey H Duyn, Ph.D. — National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke (NINDS)
- Study coordinator: Susan C Guttman
- Email: fultons@mail.nih.gov
- Phone: (301) 451-9912
How to participate
- Review the eligibility criteria above with your treating physician.
- Visit the official trial page on ClinicalTrials.gov for the most current contact information and recruitment status.
- Contact the listed study coordinator or principal investigator to request pre-screening. Pre-screening is free and never obligates you to enroll.