Study of Brain Network Connectivity and Internal Body Awareness in Adults with Restless Legs Syndrome Using Daily-Life Monitoring and Brain Imaging

What this Trial Is About

Restless Legs Syndrome RLS is a condition marked by an uncontrollable urge to move the legs when at rest, possibly linked to abnormal brain processing of internal body signals called interoception. Researchers believe that dysfunction in a brain area called the insular cortex may cause symptoms like leg discomfort and increased alertness, even when rest is needed. This study aims to explore how interoceptive abilities and brain connectivity change throughout the day in people with RLS compared to healthy individuals, using advanced brain imaging and daily symptom tracking. Participants will use a study smartphone and a wrist-worn actigraph for two weeks to monitor their activity and rest cycles while completing questionnaires about RLS symptoms, mood, sleepiness, and arousal. After this period, they will undergo brain scans twice in one dayonce in the morning and once in the eveningto measure functional connections in the insular cortex. The study also includes assessments of interoceptive awareness and accuracy through specific questionnaires and tasks. Throughout the study, participants will provide detailed daily self-reports via electronic interviews and wear devices to track sleep and activity patterns. Researchers will analyze correlations between brain connectivity, symptom fluctuations, and sleep cycles. The main outcome measure is the functional connectivity of the insular cortex assessed 14 days after the start. This comprehensive approach includes both behavioral and brain imaging assessments to understand how internal body awareness relates to RLS symptoms over time.

Functional Connectivity of the Interoceptive Network in RLS