The Impact of Light and Odor on Alertness in Management of Sleep Inertia
The effect of bright light and odor on cognitive performance in management of sleep inertia
Naval Postgraduate School
24 participants
Jan 15, 2021
Interventional
Conditions
Summary
The current study will evaluate the impact of sleep inertia on cognitive performance and subjective sleepiness/fatigue, measuring overall impairment and time course, during the first hour after waking at 400h and 1600h, relative to background performance and active control group, across days of sleep restriction. Further, this study will aim to determine the effectiveness of reactive countermeasures (light and odor) to reduce the impact of sleep inertia on cognitive performance and subjective sleepiness/fatigue. It is hypothesised that the impact of sleep inertia on cognitive performance will be greatest upon waking and will dissipate over the first hour of wake. Due to the cumulative effect of sleep restriction, performance will be successively worse upon waking from day one to four and return to a lower baseline each day.
Eligibility
Inclusion Criteria1
- Healthy, young adults (18-40 years) with normal sleep/wake behaviour.
Exclusion Criteria3
- Self reported habitual nightly sleep amounts < 6 or > 9 hours; self reported night time lights out earlier than 2100 hours during weeknights; self reported morning wake-up times
- later than 0900 during weekdays; self reported habitual napping > 1 time a week; self reported caffeine use > 400 mg (e.g. 8 caffeinated sodas or approximately 3 to 4 cups of coffee) per day, history of cardiovascular disease (including but not limited to arrhythmias, valvular heart disease, congestive heart failure, or myocardial infarction); history of neurologic disorder (including but not limited to epilepsy or another seizure disorder,
- amnesia for any reason, hydrocephalus, MS, narcolepsy or other sleep disorder); underlying pulmonary disease requiring daily inhaler use; kidney disease or abnormalities, liver disease or abnormalities; self reported history of psychiatric disorder requiring hospitalization or psychiatric product for any length of time; self reported or suspected regular nicotine use (> 1 cigarette or equivalent per week) within the last year; self reported or suspected heavy alcohol use (minimum limit to define heavy alcohol use is 14 drinks per week or as determined by the examining study licensed physician); self reported or suspected current use of other illicit drugs (including but not limited to benzodiazepines, amphetamines, cocaine, marijuana); resting blood pressure above 140/90 or resting pulse > 110; BMI > 30 (Obese Class I or greater); clinically significant values (as determined by the reviewing study physician) for any haematology or chemistry parameter; positive urine drug result during screening visit; currently taking corticosteroid or anti-inflammatory medications.
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Interventions
Trained research assistants will deliver and monitor participant adherence to the protocol at all times during the 7 day in-laboratory visit which will be overseen by the chief investigators of the study. 24 participants will be randomised to one of 3 conditions: Odor, Bright light or Control (no intervention). Following an acclimatization sleep of 7 hours, participants will have sleep restricted to 5hr/day (4hr night sleep and a 1hr afternoon nap) for 4 experimental days (intervention days), followed by an 8hr recovery sleep period. Immediately upon wakening from each sleep, participants will be provided an intervention (odor: inhale proprietary odor: peppermint and cinnamon oil, light:seated in front of light box (approx 50 cm away at 1000lux), control:no intervention) for approximately 5 minutes (Total exposure across the experiment 8 times) followed by a 1hr cognitive behavioural test battery to examine the impact of sleep inertia (SI) on performance and the effectiveness of differing countermeasures. An additional cognitive performance test battery (approx 90min) will be conducted at approximately 4h intervals on each day. During sleep periods, polysomnography (involving attachment of electrodes to the scalp, face, chin and chest) will be used to measure sleep stages and heart rate.
Locations(1)
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ACTRN12621000839808