Home › Insomnia › NCT05393830

The Effect of Sleep Loss on Emotion Regulation

The Impact of Insufficient Sleep and Insomnia Disorder on Behavioral and Neural Markers of Emotion Regulation

Who can join

Ages 18 to 40 · All sexes · Healthy volunteers welcome

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)

About the study

The study is designed to investigate the impact of three nights of sleep restricted to 4 hours per night, on the processing and regulation of emotional information compared to Insomnia Disorder and control. The investigators will address and attempt to answer two questions.

(i) How do three nights of reduced sleep or a diagnosis of Insomnia Disorder affect the processing and regulation of emotional information compared to typical, undisturbed sleep? (ii) What overlapping and distinct neural mechanisms are engaged and associated with behavioral effects when attempting to process and regulate emotions in a sleep restricted state or with a clinical diagnosis of Insomnia Disorder? This study will investigate sleep's role in emotion processing and regulation. The findings will help further understanding of the role of sleep in healthy emotional functioning.

What is being tested

• Sleep Restriction (behavioral)

Sponsor: Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center · Participants: 90 · Started: May 11, 2023

Contact the study team

• Tony J Cunningham, PhD · Phone: 617-667-3337

Official record on ClinicalTrials.gov — NCT05393830

Locations in the U.S.

Conditions

• Insomnia

From ClinicalTrials.gov, data retrieved Sep 30, 2026. Each study sets its own eligibility; the study team decides who can join.