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Sleep-dependent Learning in Aging

University of Massachusetts, Amherst · NCT03840083

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Opens the official ClinicalTrials.gov record, with the study team’s contacts. Bored Studies doesn’t enroll anyone.

Key facts

Compensation
Not posted. Ask the study team before screening.
Who can join
Ages 18–80 · All sexes
Healthy volunteers
Accepted
Study type
Interventional · Not applicable
Target enrollment
584
US sites recruiting
1
Study start
July 15, 2018
Record last updated
April 3, 2025

Status re-checked against ClinicalTrials.gov within the last 12 hours.

What the study is about

The specific objective of this proposed research is to understand whether deficits in sleep-dependent memory changes reflect age-related changes in sleep, memory, or both. The central hypothesis is that changes in both memory and sleep contribute to age-related changes in sleep-dependent memory processing. To this end, the investigators will investigate changes in learning following intervals of sleep (overnight and nap) and wake in young and older adults.

Being studied: Sleep

Conditions: Sleep

Eligibility criteria

Copied from the official record. The study team makes the final decision at screening.

Show full criteria

Inclusion Criteria

  • Age 18-80 yrs
  • Healthy sleeper
  • No diagnosed sleep or neurodegenerative disorder

Exclusion Criteria

  • Past diagnosis of any sleep disorder or evidence of a sleep disorder as assessed by self-reported sleep quality assessments, a standardized diagnostic interview, and an acclimation night of polysomnography. Using acclimation-night polysomnography, participants will be excluded with an Apnea-Hypopnea Index >15; a Period-Limb Movement in Sleep index of >15/hr; sleep-onset latency > 45 min (indicative of insomnia); or sleep efficiency \< 80% (see Edinger et al., Sleep, 2004). In cases in which questions arise regarding a participants' inclusion or sleep records, a practicing neurologist board-certified in sleep medicine will review the documentation.
  • Past diagnosis neurological illness or head injury
  • Reported average sleep per night \< 5 or > 9 hrs
  • Current employment involving shift work or an inability to keep a regular sleep schedule during the week prior to testing
  • Current use of psychotropic, recreational drugs, or sleep-altering medications (sleep medications, cold medicines within the past week, clonidine, sympathomimetic stimulants)
  • Daily caffeine intake of > 4 cups (coffee, tea, colas)
  • Weekly alcohol intake of > 10 cups
  • Pregnancy or \< 12 months post-partum
  • History of bipolar disorder, mania, or current evidence of depression as measured by Beck Depression Inventory score > 25
  • Abnormal sleep (e.g., shift work, travel across >2 time zones within the past 3 months).
  • Diagnosis of any Axis I disorder, neurological illness or head injury (according to Demographic and Health History form);
  • Score indicative of cognitive dysfunction (subtest scores \< 40)
  • Beck Depression Scale score indicative of depression (> 19).

Additionally, individuals will be excluded from magnetic resonance imaging studies (Exps 1, 4) for:

  • Left handed or ambidextrous
  • Claustrophobia
  • Presence of metal (thoroughly screened via questionnaire and metal detector)
  • Pregnancy

Recruiting US locations

  • University of Massachusetts

    Amherst, MA 01003

    Site contact: Mary Emma Searles · 413-545-4831 · msearles@umass.edu

All sleep studies in Massachusetts →
Sleep-dependent Learning in Aging (NCT03840083) | Bored Studies