The Neurocognitive Effects of Total and Partial Sleep Deprivation in Younger Adults.

NCT07822009 · tracked via the Priya Life Science Sweden tracker

Sponsor

Örebro University, Sweden

Phase

Not applicable

Started

2026-09

Last updated

2026-09-16

Condition(s) studied

Sleep Deprivation

Investigational drug(s) / intervention(s)

Total sleep deprivationPartial sleep deprivationNormal sleep

Total sleep deprivation: No sleep for 28-32 hours.

Partial sleep deprivation: Restriction to 4 hours sleep/night for two consecutive nights.

Normal sleep: Normal (7-9 hours) sleep, following normal patterns of wakeup and sleep onset.

Study summary

This study aims to examine how total and partial sleep deprivation affect brain function, cognitive performance, and biomarkers related to stress and inflammation in the same participants using a crossover design. The study will also compare the effects of total and partial sleep deprivation to determine whether these conditions affect the brain and body differently. The findings may improve our understanding of the consequences of sleep deprivation and help inform strategies to reduce its negative impact on health and society.

* How does total versus partial sleep deprivation affect brain activity during rest and cognitive tasks?
* How does sleep deprivation affect functional connectivity between brain networks?
* How does sleep deprivation affect working memory, attention, and executive control?
* How does sleep deprivation affect biomarkers of stress and inflammation, such as cortisol?
* Are changes in brain activity and connectivity associated with changes in cognitive performance and biological markers?
* Can combining MRI-based and non-MRI-based measures provide a more complete picture of the effects of sleep deprivation?

Participants will complete three study conditions in a randomized order:

Total Sleep Deprivation (TSD): 28 to 32 hours of continuous wakefulness. Partial Sleep Deprivation (PSD): sleep restricted to 4 hours per night for two consecutive nights.

Normal Sleep (control condition): a night of habitual sleep without sleep restriction.

Eligibility

Sex

ALL

Min age

20 Years

Max age

40 Years

Healthy volunteers

Accepted

Inclusion Criteria: * Signed informed consent prior to any study-related procedures. * Age 20 to 40 years. * Normal weight at screening, defined as a BMI between 18.5 and 24.9. * Willingness to comply with the study protocol. Exclusion Criteria: * Current diagnosis of a psychiatric or neurological disorder or syndrome. * Current diagnosis of another medical condition that limits study participation. * Diagnosed sleep disorder (e.g., insomnia). * Self-reported poor sleep quality (\>5 on the PSQI). * Working permanent night shifts or rotating night shifts. * Use of medications or dietary supplements considered likely to affect the study outcome measures (e.g., melatonin). * Extremely high perceived stress (\>26 on the PSS). * Sleep apnea. * Excessive alcohol consumption (\>9 standard drinks per week or \>3 standard drinks per occasion). * Extreme morningness or eveningness (\>69 or \<31 on the MEQ). * Excessive daytime sleepiness (\>10 on the ESS). * Lifestyle factors that may contribute to fragmented sleep (e.g., being a parent of young children). * MRI contraindications: claustrophobia; shunts in the head; bullet fragments or metal fragments in the body; metal implants or electrodes in the body; left-handedness; previous head surgery; previous heart surgery; or ingestion of a video capsule that may remain in the gastrointestinal tract. * Any other reason that, in the opinion of the investigator, makes participation inappropriate.

Primary outcome measure(s)

Brain functional activity and connectivity (PVT) — 3 weeks
Compare normal sleep to SD (total and partial)

Trial sites (1)

Facility	City	Region	Status
Örebro university	Örebro	Örebro County

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Official registry record

This page summarises publicly available registry data for informational purposes — not medical advice. Eligibility is determined by each study team; patients should discuss participation with their clinician.

View NCT07822009 on ClinicalTrials.gov ↗ ← All trials in Sweden