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Sleep and Performance Research Center

Human Sleep and Cognition Laboratory

DEVON A. HANSEN, Ph.D., LMHC

AREAS OF INTEREST

Sleep deprivation, cognitive performance, sleep physiology, affect, stress, sleep disorders, sleep medicine, clinical/translational trials

RESEARCH SCOPE

Insufficient sleep and sleep disorders are serious public health concerns affecting upwards of 40% of adults in the United States. Insufficient and disordered sleep contributes to the development, perpetuation, and exacerbation of various conditions including depression, anxiety, and chronic pain, while also increasing the risk of cardiovascular, gastrointestinal, and neurological sequalae. By studying the effects of sleep loss in both laboratory and home environments, we can characterize and determine the impact of sleep loss on whole body functioning with the goal of validating and developing novel interventions for implementation in the real-world.

RESEARCH FOCUS

Our highly controlled laboratory-based studies examine the impact of sleep loss on cognitive, affective, and physiological functioning. To measure this, I use a combination of computer-based cognitive tasks, physiological measures such as heart rate variability, electrodermal skin conductance, and stress induction, in addition to validated affective questionnaires. The results of which provide insight into the etiology of whole-body functioning in both healthy and sleep disordered populations under variable conditions of sleep loss.

My home-based research is focused on long-term monitoring of sleep in a naturalistic, home environment to objectively measure sleep parameters in an ecologically valid manner.

STAFF AND TRAINEES

  • Rimaz Salih (International Placement Student)
  • Alicja Skwara (International Placement Student)

APPROACHES USED

  • Sleep deprivation
  • Cognitive performance tasks
  • Psychomotor vigilance test
  • Stress induction
  • Electrodermal activity
  • Heart rate variability
  • Actigraphy
  • Behavioral interventions
  • Non-contact sleep monitoring
  • Pharmaceuticals

GRANT SUPPORT

  • National Institutes of Health
  • Office of Naval Research
  • Pulsar Informatics
  • Department of Defense
  • Mars, Inc.

PUBLICATIONS

http://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov