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Completed

NCT Number: NCT01823263

Metabolic and Cognitive Parameters Following Partial Sleep Deprivation

The purpose of this study is to determine whether partial sleep deprivation, as compared with normal sleep, influences certain metabolic and cognitive parameters, related to food intake, hunger and memory functions, when participants are shielded from external time cues.

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Key information

Conditions

Sleep Deprivation Dyssomnias Mental Disorders Nervous System Diseases Neurologic Manifestations Pathological Conditions, Signs and Symptoms Signs and Symptoms Sleep Sleep Wake Disorders

Age range

20 year–28 year

Sex eligibility

Male

Study type

Interventional

Phase

Not applicable

Primary location

Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University

Uppsala, Uppsala County, 75105, Sweden

About this study

It is predicted that partial sleep deprivation negatively affects the hormonal status, e.g. upregulating ghrelin and other hunger-promoting hunger hormones, while showing impaired memory functions. It is also predicted that participants will tend to increase their desired portion sizes after partial sleep deprivation, compared with after a normal night's sleep.

Who can participate

Healthy volunteers accepted: Yes

Only the study team can determine whether someone qualifies for participation.

Inclusion criteria

  • Male
  • Age 20-28y
  • Healthy (self-reported) and not on medication
  • Non-smoking
  • Normal sleep-wake rhythm (i.e. 7-8 h per night, self-reported and verified by sleep diaries)
  • Normal dietary habits (regular meal pattern with daily breakfast)

Exclusion criteria

  • Major illness
  • Taking any serious medications
  • Any sleep conditions (e.g. irregular bedtimes, sleep complaints)
  • Any dietary issues with the food items provided
  • A history of endocrine, neurological or psychiatric disorders
  • Shift work in the previous 3 months
  • Travel over several time zones within the previous two months

Treatment and study plan

Portion Size Task

Behavioral

Participants are given a computer program that gives them the opportunity to choose the portions of a variety of food items that they would ideally like to consume

Blood sample

Procedure

In the morning following partial sleep deprivation or normal sleep, a blood sample will be taken to assess the level of metabolism-linked and neurodegenerative-linked molecules, as well as to assay blood serum and plasma for the presence of hormones involved in hunger such as ghrelin

Interference task

Procedure

30-minute interference task

Memory tasks

Behavioral

Participants will be allowed to learn a procedural memory task before going to bed. Participants will be retested in the morning to assess their change in performance. Other memory tests will also be given to assess the working memory performance in the morning following the intervention.

Intake task

Behavioral

After a normal night of sleep or partial sleep deprivation, participants are presented with an ad libitum meal choice and can select the amount to ingest during a limited time window. Amount and selection will be recorded

Working memory function task

Behavioral

Participants will be evaluated on their working memory performance in the morning following either nighttime intervention (NS or PSD)

Primary outcomes

  1. Memory tasks

    Time frame: Change in memory performance between learning (at 2230 hours in NS and PSD condition) before going to sleep, and at 0800 and 0930 hours (following PSD or NS)

    Procedural memory performance after learning a procedural memory task close to going to bed, followed by either partial sleep deprivation (PSD) or normal sleep (NS), and comparing the performance the following morning at two time points. Participants spatial memory performance in the morning at two time points, following PSD will also be compared with that following NS, after having learned such a memory task in the evening before going to bed.

Secondary outcomes

  1. Circulating hormone levels

    Time frame: Change in circulating hormone levels and other metabolism-linked and neurodegeneration-associated molecules at 0730, 0830, 0910, 0925, 0940, 1010, 1040, 1105, and 1150 hours following the respective nighttime intervention and after the interference task

    Interference task given at 0900 hours

  2. Intake task

    Time frame: Change in intake at around 1200 hours, following the respective nighttime intervention (NS or PSD)

    Participants are presented with an ad libitum meal choice and can select the amount to ingest during a limited time window. Amount and selection will be recorded.

  3. Working memory function task

    Time frame: Change in memory performance at 0800 hours and after the interference task again at 0930 hours (between and following PSD or NS)

    Participants will be evaluated on their working memory performance in the morning following either nighttime intervention (NS or PSD) and before and after an interference task

  4. Portion Size Task

    Time frame: Change in selected portion size from baseline (at 0800 hours following the nighttime intervention), to one hour later, i.e. after an interference task

    Participants will be evaluated on their tendency to choose larger or smaller portions of a variety of meal items on a computer screen. This will be conducted both following partial sleep deprivation and normal sleep, and changes before and after a short interference task will be compared between these two conditions.

Sponsors and collaborators

Lead sponsor

Uppsala University

Other

Registry information

Official study title

Metabolic and Cognitive Effects of Sleep Deprivation

Important dates

Study start
2013
Primary completion
2014
Study completion
2014
First posted
Apr 4, 2013
Registry last updated
Aug 12, 2026

OpenTrials presents study information sourced from ClinicalTrials.gov. The official registry record should be consulted for the latest information.

View the official ClinicalTrials.gov record (opens in a new tab)

This listing is for discovery and informational purposes only. It is not medical advice, does not guarantee that a study is recruiting, and does not determine eligibility. Contact the study team and a qualified healthcare professional when considering participation.

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