Beyond Sleep Duration: Sleep Regularity, Emotional Memory, and Prefrontal–Limbic Development in Adolescence

This narrative literature review examines the relationship between sleep regularity, emotional memory, and adolescent brain development. It explores the roles of the amygdala, hippocampus, and prefrontal cortex in emotional processing and memory consolidation. Drawing on existing research, the article distinguishes sleep duration, timing, and regularity while identifying gaps in evidence regarding their independent associations with emotional memory in adolescents. It also proposes a longitudinal research framework in Abu Dhabi to investigate these relationships, with attention to ethical safeguards and the limitations of current evidence.