Cognitive Change, Sleep, Sleep Deprivation
Conditions
Keywords
sleep, sleep disorder, sleep deprivation, Meditation, Shoonya meditation
Brief summary
This study aims to investigate the effect of a 15-minute meditation practice on sleep architecture and high-frequency Heart Rate Variability (HF-HRV), as well as cognitive performance after both a well-rested and sleep-deprived night.
Detailed description
Sleep is physiologically important for memory consolidation, mood and hormonal regulation, and maintaining low levels of systemic inflammation. However, a substantial proportion of people are reported to regularly sleep less than the recommended 7-9 hours a night. Meditation may be a means to mitigate the negative effects of sleep deprivation, as many types of meditations are associated with increasing high-frequency heart rate variability (HF-HRV), which is an index of parasympathetic control of the heart. Greater parasympathetic drive may be associated with physiological buffering of the detrimental effects of sleep deprivation. The investigators want to conduct a prospective cohort study where subjects practice a 15-minute meditation (Shoonya meditation) or continue their usual routine. Subjects will be asked to complete some cognitive tests before and after a night of sleep and a night of sleep deprivation. During the night of sleep, participants will undergo polysomnography recording for sleep architecture and quality. The intervention group and the control group, which continues their usual routine, will only undergo one visit.
Interventions
BEHAVIORALNap Practitioners
Regular nappers will be given a 30 minute nap opportunity to nap for as long as they please.
BEHAVIORALShoonya Meditation
This is a 15 minute meditation, described as a process of conscious non-doing.
Sponsors
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Study design
Observational model
OTHER
Time perspective
OTHER
Eligibility
Sex/Gender
ALL
Age
18 Years to 60 Years
Healthy volunteers
Yes
Inclusion criteria
1. Shoonya meditation program participants/individuals eligible to participate who are healthy adults of age 18 or older, and reside in the United States. Participants must be able and willing to travel to Boston. 2. Nap Group: Healthy adults of age 18 or older that reside in the United States, nap regularly (at least 3 times a week), and do not meditate regularly.
Exclusion criteria
1. History of any neurological condition (i.e. Parkinson's disease, Alzheimer's disease, Huntington's disease, brain tumors, brain surgery, or multiple sclerosis) 2. History of any psychiatric disorder, within last 5 years (i.e. anxiety, psychosis, posttraumatic stress disorder, attention deficit hyperactive disorder) 3. Current use of cognition enhancing medications 4. Active history (within the last 5 years) of alcohol or drug abuse (\> 10 drinks per week) 5. History (within the last 5 years) of stroke/aneurysm 6. Recent history (\< 3 months) of seizures 7. 60 years of age or older 8. History of Heart Attack and Ejection Fraction less than or equal to 30% 9. Pregnancy 10. Non-English speaking 11. History/Diagnosis of any sleep disorder 12. Consumption of 3 or more cups of coffee a day 13. Previously learned shoonya meditation (for the meditator groups)
Design outcomes
Primary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Error frequency Change: Go-No Go Task | 2 months post learning meditation | The primary outcome is the difference in number of commission and omission errors on the Go-No Go task. The difference in scores pre- and post-sleep deprivation will be analyzed between the control and intervention group. |
Secondary
| Measure | Time frame | Description |
|---|---|---|
| Reaction Time Change: Go-No Go | 2 months post learning meditation | The difference in reaction times on the Go-No Go task. The difference in scores pre- and post-sleep deprivation will compared between the control and intervention groups. |
Countries
United States
Contacts
PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATORBalachundhar Subramaniam, MD, MPH
Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
Outcome results
None listed