What question did this study set out to answer?

The aim is to examine how sleep restriction impacts waking EEG in adolescents and if inattentive traits influence this effect.

May 10, 2026

0201 Inattentive Traits Moderate the Impact of Sleep Restriction on Waking Electroencephalography Power in Adolescents

Puntos clave

The aim is to examine how sleep restriction impacts waking EEG in adolescents and if inattentive traits influence this effect.
Analyzed EEG data from 49 adolescents aged 10.1 to 15.7 years.
Participants experienced two sleep conditions: sleep optimization (10 hours) and sleep restriction (7.5 hours).
Use of linear mixed-effects models to assess EEG changes based on sleep condition and inattentive traits.
Sleep restriction resulted in decreased relative delta (β=-0.37, p<.001) and theta power (absolute: β=-0.30, p=.006; relative: β=-0.27, p=.022).
Increased relative slow power was found during sleep restriction (β=0.33, p=.007).
Inattentive traits moderated relative alpha power changes, showing more reduction in those with lower traits (β=0.24, p=.037).

Resumen

Abstract Introduction Insufficient sleep emerges in adolescents due to interacting biopsychosocial factors. Disrupted waking neurophysiology may account for negative outcomes associated with sleep loss. Adolescents with high inattentive traits, like those with attention-deficit/hyperactivity-disorder (ADHD) may be more vulnerable to sleep loss. We investigated the impact of sleep restriction on resting wake EEG and whether inattentive traits moderate its effects. Methods After removing data with excessive artifact (n=13), we analyzed resting waking EEG from 49 adolescents (Mean age=12.3±1.2 years, range: 10.1-15.7 years, 22M) with varying inattentive traits indexed by parent-rated Conners-3 t-scores (58.76±14.32, range: 40-90). Participants completed a 5-minute eyes-closed afternoon recording (ZMax EEG headband; 256 Hz; F7-FPz 10h time-in-bed) and sleep restriction (SR; 7.5 time-in-bed). We computed relative and absolute alpha (8- 12 Hz), theta (4- 8 Hz), delta (1- 4 Hz), and slow (0.5- 1 Hz) power using multitaper spectral analysis. Linear mixed-effects models tested effects of condition (SR vs. SO) and inattention-by-condition interactions on each age- and sex-residualized spectral estimate. Results SR was associated with several changes to the waking EEG relative to SO: lower relative delta (β=-0.37, p.001) and theta (absolute: β=-0.30, p=.006, relative: β=-0.27, p=.022) power, but higher relative slow power (β=0.33, p=.007). Inattentive traits moderated the effect of SR on relative alpha power (β=0.24, p=.037); specifically, with lower inattentive traits, there was a stronger decrease in relative alpha power from SO to SR. Inattentive traits did not moderate any other effects of SR (p’s.14). Conclusion These results indicate that sleep restriction alters resting wake EEG in adolescents. Decreases in relative delta and theta power, and increases in slow power, in frontal derivations, may indicate drowsy wakefulness (i.e., slow eye movements); we are currently investigating this hypothesis. These data also indicate that those high inattentive traits may be differentially sensitive to EEG changes, particularly at alpha frequencies. Future directions include examining whether these SR-changes in wake neurophysiology reflect neurobehavioral performance (e.g., attentional lapses). Support (if any) T32MH019927 (KPO); R01HD103655 (JMS); P20GM139743 (MAC)

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