Back to search results

Circadian Rhythms and Sleep in Adolescents Study

This study is looking at how sleep patterns and your body's natural clock (circadian rhythms) affect how teenagers think and react to rewards. Many teens don't get enough sleep, which might increase the risk for substance use. Researchers want to understand if sleep problems or changes in circadian rhythms affect brain systems that control reward and decision-making. You might be able to join if you are 13-18 years old, in high school, and generally healthy. The study involves a special sleep schedule called an "ultradian sleep/wake protocol" where you'll have short sleep opportunities throughout the day. Researchers will measure changes in your brain activity (EEG delta power and theta power) and melatonin levels to see the effects of this protocol. The study is currently recruiting 200 participants.

Study design
This is an interventional study planning to enroll 200 adolescents. It involves a specific behavioral intervention called an ultradian sleep/wake protocol.
What's involved
You would monitor sleep at home for two weeks, complete fMRI brain scans, and then stay in a lab for 48-60 hours, including sleep studies and the special sleep/wake protocol.
Compensation
Not stated in the trial record.
Follow-up
Brain activity (EEG delta power) is measured on the night before and the night after the ultradian sleep/wake protocol. Other measures are taken during the protocol itself.

AI-generated from the public study record. Only the study team can confirm whether you're eligible — confirm details with them before making decisions.

NCT05336084

Circadian Rhythms and Homeostatic Sleep Drive and Their Effect on Reward and Cognitive Control Systems in Adolescents

Recruiting
NAAges 13–18InterventionalBasic science
University of Pittsburgh
~200 participants
Updated 2026-04-08 on ClinicalTrials.gov
What's tested:Ultradian sleep/wake protocol

At a glance

Recruiting sites
1 of 1 listed site is recruiting right now
RecruitingSuspended, closed, or not yet open
What they're measuring
Change in EEG delta power across overnight polysomnography on the night preceding vs. following the 36-hour ultradian sleep/wake protocol.
Measured over The first night of sleep preceding the 36-hour ultradian sleep/wake protocol vs the night of sleep following the ultradian sleep/wake protocol
+2 more outcomes measured

Conditions

Sleep

Explore related trials

Sleep Disorder

Where it's being run

1 sites across 1 states
Pennsylvania1

Study leadership

  • Peter L. Franzen, PhD · PRINCIPAL_INVESTIGATOR · University of Pittsburgh

Who to contact

Ronette Blake, MS
[email protected]
(412) 443-3704
Email the study team

Opens a ready-to-send draft in your own email app — review before sending.

Do you actually qualify for this trial?

Add a private profile and we'll compare every criterion below against your situation — and tell you which ones are met, uncertain, or excluding.

Check eligibility for this trial ~2 min · HIPAA-protected · delete anytime
Eligibility criteria

Inclusion

Age 13-18 years
Currently enrolled in a traditional high-school (not cyber- or home-schooled) \[school closures during the COVID-19 pandemic are an exception to this\]
Physically and psychiatrically healthy
Provision of written informed consent and assent

Exclusion

outside age range above
have a history of alcohol, cannabis, or illicit drug use greater than weekly use in the past year
have serious medical or neurological disorders, including history of seizures
have serious psychiatric disorders (e.g. bipolar disorder and schizophrenia)
taking antidepressants (SSRIs/SSNIs are OK) or medications known to impact sleep/wake function - some medications may be okay if willing and able to discontinue prior to and/or for laboratory procedures
have sleep disorders other than insomnia or Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder
have MRI contraindications (i.e., metal in the body; claustrophobia)
first degree relative with bipolar disorder
frequent headaches or migraines
inability to swallow pills/capsules.
pregnancy
participants with observed Obstructive Sleep Apnea via Apnealink, as indicated by an Apnea Hypopnea Index (AHI) of greater than 5
Less than 80 lbs. or a BMI of greater than 35

What this trial measures

  • Change in EEG delta power across overnight polysomnography on the night preceding vs. following the 36-hour ultradian sleep/wake protocol.The first night of sleep preceding the 36-hour ultradian sleep/wake protocol vs the night of sleep following the ultradian sleep/wake protocol

    Change in the slope of EEG delta power (0.5 - 4 Hz) across NREM periods (frontal leads) on the night preceding vs. following the 36-h ultradian sleep/wake protocol (as measured by polysomnography). This procedure is no longer being collected as of January 2026.

  • Change in slope of waking EEG theta powerEvery 2 hours during the ultradian sleep/wake protocol, up two 36 hours

    Assessed every 2 hours across the ultradian sleep/wake protocol

  • Melatonin onsetThe first 28-hours of the ultradian sleep/wake protocol

    Endogenous circadian phase estimate of the rise in evening melatonin levels from saliva samples collected over the ultradian protocol (every 30 - 60 minutes) under dim light conditions.