Podcast
Matthew Sutherland, Florida International University - How Sleep Disorders Change the Brain
On Florida International University Week: Sleep disorders may be changing your brain.
Matthew Sutherland, associate professor of psychology, explores how.
Faculty Bio:
Matthew Sutherland is a cognitive neuroscientist and associate professor of psychology at Florida International University. His research uses brain imaging to better understand how conditions such as substance use, sleep disorders and other health challenges affect brain function and behavior.
Transcript:
Most people know that poor sleep can leave them feeling tired, unfocused or irritable. But sleep disorders may do more than affect how you feel. They may actually be associated with changes in the brain itself.
We wanted to better understand what happens in the brain across different types of sleep disorders. Sleep disorders affect an estimated 50 to 70 million Americans, yet most research has only examined these conditions one at a time.
Our team conducted a meta-analysis of 57 brain imaging studies, looking at disorders such as insomnia and sleep apnea, as well as sleepwalking, nightmare disorder and sleep terrors. By analyzing many studies together, we were able to identify patterns that might not be visible in individual investigations.
Across multiple sleep disorders, we found structural changes in a region of the brain called the thalamus. More specifically, changes appeared in an area known as the pulvinar, which helps direct attention, filter information and support higher-level thinking.
These findings may help explain why people with chronic sleep problems often report brain fog, difficulty concentrating, slower reaction times and challenges with decision-making.
We also found unique changes among people with parasomnias, disorders that disrupt the sleep cycle itself. These changes occurred in a brain region involved in motivation, emotional regulation and decision-making, which may help explain some of the mood and behavioral symptoms associated with these conditions.
Understanding how sleep disorders affect the brain could help researchers develop better diagnostic tools, identify problems earlier and create more personalized treatments.
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