Healthy Volunteers Needed for Paid Sleep Study
Researchers at Brigham and Women's Hospital are investigating how late-night snacking and light exposure affect the body clock. Further sleep research and join our study today!
Conducted in Boston, MA
18-35 Years Old
Compensation Provided
Not taking medications (contraception OK)
Fast Facts
Generally Healthy
Study Background Our researchers want to learn more about how light exposure and behaviors like eating affect the body's internal clock. This internal clock controls your daily sleep cycles, body temperature, hormones, and performance. This study involves (up to) a 3-week screening process and then a 7-8 day inpatient stay at Brigham & Women's Hospital. While you are at the facility, you can read, listen to music, or work on your hobbies in your free time between computer tests and other study activities. During this time, you won't have your phone with you. This will allow us to observe how your internal clock operates without you knowing what time it is. We hope this research will contribute to developing recommendations for healthy light exposure and eating schedules, as well as guide treatment strategies for circadian rhythm disruption, for example, in shift workers. Further sleep research and join our compensated study today! |
Additional Information
The goal of this study is to observe how light exposure and behaviors like eating affect the body's internal clock.
You may qualify for this study if you meet the following criteria.
Key Criteria:
Key Criteria:
- 18-35 years old
- Non-smoker
- No major medical or psychiatric conditions
- No sleep disorders
- Not taking any medications (birth control OK)
- Usually sleep about 8 hours per night
- Not dependent on any substances
- Limited caffeine use
- Able to live in study lab for up to 8 days
Before the study (3-5 weeks):
- Up to 5 outpatient visits
- Consent & screening questionnaires
- Medical history & physical exam with a doctor, EKG, lab work
- Interview with a psychologist
- Keep a consistent 8-hour sleep schedule and complete daily sleep logs
- Wear an activity monitor
- Record what you eat (up to 11 days before the study)
- Eat food provided to you (3 days before the study)
- Live in a lab without leaving
- Complete cognitive performance tests on a computer
- 2 instances of "constant routines" (stay awake while in bed for 20-70 hours) accompanied by a technician to help you stay awake
- 1-3 instances of light treatment (bright indoor light exposure for up to 16 hours)
- Meal schedules may be either typical, eating frequent snacks, or eating a normal amount of food in a small window of time
- Time-free environment (no windows, phones, watch, clocks, TV, radio, or visits)
- Your body may take a day or two to readjust to its normal schedule, like having jet lag
Compensation up to $3,500 is provided for your participation.
There is no cost for you to participate in this study.