None listed
Conditions
Brief summary
The aim of this study is to see if the detrimental cognitive effects of 36 hours of sleep deprivation can be offset by applying slow wave oscillations induced by non-invasive brain stimulation to mimic the effects of slow wave sleep. The study will target healthy adults. Effects will be compared to sham stimulation and a brief nap. It is hypothesised that slow wave brain stimulation will protect the brain from the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation, and will provide similar benefits to that provided by a brief nap.
Interventions
Participants will be sleep deprived for 36 hours. Participants will attend the laboratory ~12 hours after waking and will be continually monitored within the laboratory by trained research staff to ensure they do not fall asleep up until the data collection stage at 36 hours sleep deprivation. Prior to attending the laboratory participants will be wearing an actigraphy device on their wrist to provide data on their sleep-wake activity when away from the laboratory.
Participants will receive a
Participants will be sleep deprived for 36 hours. Participants will attend the laboratory ~12 hours after waking and will be continually monitored within the laboratory by trained research staff to ensure they do not fall asleep up until the data collection stage at 36 hours sleep deprivation. Prior to attending the laboratory participants will be wearing an actigraphy device on their wrist to provide data on their sleep-wake activity when away from the laboratory. Participants will receive a safe and non-painful form of non-invasive brain stimulation (transcranial alternating current stimulation; tACS) using a NeuroConn DC stimulator. The stimulation will be applied at 2mA for 20 minutes at a frequency of 0.75Hz. Two electrodes will be applied to the frontal region of the scalp to target dorsolateral prefrontal cortex. Stimulation is normally perceived as a scratching or itching sensation. Research staff will monitor the delivery of the stimulation throughout the 20 minutes of stimulation. The device also has inbuilt safety features meaning it will automatically turn off if the connection is compromised or if the impedance under the electrodes is too high. There will be a one-week wash out period between treatments. There are six possible sequence combinations may be allocated to and these are as follows: Intervention - sham - nap Intervention - nap - sham Sham - intervention - nap Sham - nap - intervention Nap - intervention - sham Nap - sham - intervention
Sponsors
The University of Queensland
Study design
Allocation
Randomised controlled trial
Intervention model
Crossover
Primary purpose
Treatment
Masking
Open (masking not used)
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
All
Age
18 Years to 35 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
Healthy sleeper (regular sleep schedule with reportedly undisturbed sleep)
Exclusion criteria
Sleep disorders or clinical psychiatric disorders Medications that would interfere with sleep or contraindicate transcranial electric stimulation Excessive consumption of alcohol or caffeine preceding participation
Outcome results
None listed