Circadian Rhythms and Homeostatic Sleep Drive and Their Effect on Reward and Cognitive Control Systems in Adolescents

Description

Adolescence is a time of heightened reward sensitivity and greater impulsivity. On top of this, many teenagers experience chronic sleep deprivation and misalignment of their circadian rhythms due to biological shifts in their sleep/wake patterns paired with early school start times, which may increase the risk for substance use (SU). However, what impact circadian rhythm and sleep disruption either together or independently have on the neuronal circuitry that controls reward and cognition, or if there are interventions that might help to modify these disruptions is unknown. Project 1 (P1), specifically examines homeostatic and circadian characteristics as mechanisms linking habitual sleep patterns, reward and cognitive control (at subjective, behavioral, and circuit levels), and longitudinal substance use risk.

Conditions

Sleep

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Study Overview

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Study Details

Study overview

Adolescence is a time of heightened reward sensitivity and greater impulsivity. On top of this, many teenagers experience chronic sleep deprivation and misalignment of their circadian rhythms due to biological shifts in their sleep/wake patterns paired with early school start times, which may increase the risk for substance use (SU). However, what impact circadian rhythm and sleep disruption either together or independently have on the neuronal circuitry that controls reward and cognition, or if there are interventions that might help to modify these disruptions is unknown. Project 1 (P1), specifically examines homeostatic and circadian characteristics as mechanisms linking habitual sleep patterns, reward and cognitive control (at subjective, behavioral, and circuit levels), and longitudinal substance use risk.

Center for Adolescent Reward, Rhythms and Sleep Project 1

Circadian Rhythms and Homeostatic Sleep Drive and Their Effect on Reward and Cognitive Control Systems in Adolescents

Condition
Sleep
Intervention / Treatment

-

Contacts and Locations

Pittsburgh

Western Psychiatric Hospital, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, United States, 15213

Participation Criteria

Researchers look for people who fit a certain description, called eligibility criteria. Some examples of these criteria are a person's general health condition or prior treatments.

For general information about clinical research, read Learn About Studies.

Eligibility Criteria

  • * Age 13-15 years
  • * Currently enrolled in a traditional high-school (not cyber- or home-schooled) \[school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic are an exception to this\]
  • * Physically and psychiatrically healthy
  • * Provision of written informed consent and assent
  • * outside age range above
  • * have a history of alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drug use in the past month, or greater than monthly use in the past year
  • * have serious medical or neurological disorders, including history of seizures
  • * have serious psychiatric disorders (e.g. bipolar disorder and schizophrenia)
  • * taking antidepressants (SSRIs/SSNIs are OK) or medications known to impact sleep/wake function - some medications may be okay if willing and able to discontinue prior to and/or for laboratory procedures
  • * have sleep disorders other than insomnia or Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
  • * have MRI contraindications (i.e., metal in the body; claustrophobia)
  • * first degree relative with bipolar disorder
  • * frequent headaches or migraines
  • * inability to swallow pills/capsules.
  • * pregnancy
  • * participants with observed Obstructive Sleep Apnea via Apnealink, as indicated by an Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) of greater than 5
  • * Less than 80 lbs. or a BMI of greater than 35

Ages Eligible for Study

13 Years to 15 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study

ALL

Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Yes

Collaborators and Investigators

University of Pittsburgh,

Peter L. Franzen, PhD, PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR, University of Pittsburgh

Study Record Dates

2025-06-30