Information Processing at Sleep Onset and During Sleep in Patients With Insomnia

Completed

• Conditions: Primary Insomnia

• Registration Number: NCT00680199
• Lead Sponsor: University of Rochester

Brief Summary

Chronic insomnia is thought to occur as a result of hyperarousal. While there is a wealth of data to support this position, there is a lack of research to define how hyperarousal interferes with sleep initiation, maintenance, and the perception of sleep quality and quantity. We propose to use Event-related Potential (ERP) techniques to evaluate information processing at sleep onset and during sleep. ERP measures of information processing have been well established in good sleepers; they have not been, however, applied to the problem of insomnia. The goal of the project is to examine the premise that the occurrence and severity of insomnia is fundamentally related to a neurobiologic preparedness to "attend to" and "identify" environmental stimuli. Following an extensive screening, patients with insomnia and good sleepers will participate in two experimental conditions, requiring that they spend four nights in the sleep laboratory over a two week period. ERP data will be gathered prior to, following, and during sleep.

The ultimate objectives for this line of research are to determine 1) if insomnia is associated with a failure to inhibit information processing at sleep onset and/or during sleep, 2) if the failure to inhibit information processing at sleep onset and/or during sleep is associated with the occurrence and/or severity of insomnia symptoms, 3) what brain regions are functioning differently so as to give rise to information processing abnormalities, and 4) the extent to which pharmacologic and/or Cognitive Behavioral treatment for insomnia alters information processing abnormalities and/or the associated brain activity.

Detailed Description

Not available

Study Timeline

• Study First Submitted: 2008-05-15
• Study First Submitted QC: 2008-05-15
• Study First Posted: 2008-05-20
• Study Start: 2008-06
• Primary Completion: 2010-07
• Study Completion: 2010-07
• Status Verified: 2010-10
• Last Update Submitted: 2015-10-26
• Last Update Posted: 2015-10-28

Recruitment & Eligibility

• Status: COMPLETED
• Sex: All
• Target Recruitment: 50

Inclusion Criteria

Not provided

Exclusion Criteria

Not provided

Study & Design

• Study Type: OBSERVATIONAL
• Study Design: Not specified

Primary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
The intent of this study is to assess whether patients with insomnia exhibit an increased level of information processing (as assessed with ERP methods) at sleep onset and during polysomnographically defined sleep.	2 years

Secondary Outcome Measures

Name	Time	Method
Assess spindle and K-complex density to investigate whether the groups differ with respect to these putative markers of information processing and parse ERP trials in NREM into those with and without spindles and K-complexes in order to investigate their	2 years

Trial Locations

Locations (1)

University of Rochester Sleep and Neurophysiology Research Lab; 🇺🇸 Rochester, New York, United States