Actively Recruiting
Longitudinal Investigation of Sleep, Memory, and Brain Development Across the Nap Transition
Led by University of Maryland, College Park · Updated on 2025-04-04
180
Participants Needed
2
Research Sites
238 weeks
Total Duration
On this page
Sponsors
U
University of Maryland, College Park
Lead Sponsor
U
University of Massachusetts, Amherst
Collaborating Sponsor
AI-Summary
What this Trial Is About
To examine the relations between sleep (nap transitions, sleep physiology), memory, and brain development longitudinally, the researchers will assess n=180 children (in order to acquire n=152 usable data sets) who are 36-54 months of age and habitual nappers at enrollment. In each wave, the researchers will assess memory, memory change over a nap and equivalent waking interval, sleep physiology of the nap, and brain structure and function (using Magnetic Resonance Imagining or MRI). Additionally, overnight sleep physiology will be assessed in all participants. Waves will take place approximately every 6 months. For all children, three waves will be collected. With these data, the researchers will address the following aims: * Examine neural markers that predict the sleep transition (Aim 1); * Examine changes in sleep-dependent memory processing (mnemonic discrimination) over both nap and overnight sleep intervals, across the sleep transition (Aim 2); * Examine changes in sleep microstructure in both nap and overnight sleep across the sleep transition (Aim 3) * Examine interrelations among brain, memory and sleep microstructure across the sleep transition (Aim 4)
CONDITIONS
Official Title
Longitudinal Investigation of Sleep, Memory, and Brain Development Across the Nap Transition
Who Can Participate
Eligibility Criteria
You may qualify if you...
- Children aged 36 to 60 months at enrollment
- Habitual nappers who nap 5 or more days per week on average for the past month
- Children who sleep independently without bedsharing to ensure consistent sleep
You will not qualify if you...
- Diagnosis of any sleep disorder other than mild parasomnia
- Current use of psychotropic or sleep-altering medications
- Travel across more than one time zone within one month before testing
- Fever or respiratory illness symptoms at testing time
- Physical disabilities affecting vision or hearing that interfere with assessments
- Diagnosed developmental disabilities
- History of neurological injury such as seizures, brain tumor, or stroke
- Presence of metal implants or other MRI contraindications like claustrophobia
- External factors affecting nap habits, including enrollment in full-day kindergarten or interfering activities during typical nap times
AI-Screening
AI-Powered Screening
Complete this quick 3-step screening to check your eligibility
Trial Site Locations
Total: 2 locations
1
University of Maryland
College Park, Maryland, United States, 20742
Actively Recruiting
2
University of Massachusetts
Amherst, Massachusetts, United States, 01003
Actively Recruiting
How is the study designed?
Study Type
INTERVENTIONAL
Masking
NONE
Allocation
NA
Model
SINGLE_GROUP
Primary Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Number of Arms
1
Not the Right Trial for You?
Explore thousands of other clinical trials that might be a better match.
Sign up to get personalized trial recommendations delivered to your inbox.
Already have an account? Log in here