The Sleep and Memory Study
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The Sleep and Memory Study

Sleep Oscillations and Memory Consolidation in Depression: A Pilot Study 

Investigators:

  • Dr Alexandra Stainton (Orygen/ University of Melbourne)
  • Professor Kelly Allott (Orygen/ University of Melbourne)
  • Professor Amy Jordan (University of Melbourne)
  • Dr Elise McGlashan (University of Melbourne)
  • Ms Freida Balsara (researcher)
  • Ms Maddie Pan (student)

The Sleep and Memory study is a partnership between Orygen and the University of Melbourne. It has been funded by an Early Career Researcher Grant from the University of Melbourne.

It is a common experience that people who have depression can also struggle with their memory. These memory difficulties can be distressing and have significant impacts in daily life. How memory difficulties develop in depression is currently unknown. One potential mechanism of memory impairment is via sleep. Sleep is very important for the process of consolidating memories into long-term storage but can also be impaired in depression.

The purpose of this study is to measure the interaction between two types of electrical brain waves which occur naturally during sleep: sleep spindles and slow oscillations. Based on previous research, we think that a closer interaction between these types of brain waves (e.g., spindles naturally occurring very closely with slow oscillations during sleep) will be associated with better memory performance after sleep. Our hope is that this pilot project will be able to inform future, larger, studies and offer a potentially exciting new direction for treatment in the future.

WHAT DOES THE STUDY INVOLVE?

Should you agree to participate, you will be asked to complete the following:

  1. An online meeting with a researcher to complete some questionnaires about mental health experiences and some short thinking tasks.
  2. If eligible, attend the John Trinder Sleep Laboratory to complete two memory tasks and be fitted with a sleep recording device.
  3. Take a taxi home to sleep overnight wearing the recording device.
  4. Return to the Sleep Laboratory the next day to return the equipment and repeat the memory tasks.

REIMBURSEMENT

All participants will be reimbursed for their time and related expenses.

This includes:

  • $20 for a screening visit.
  • $60 for the overnight sleep study if you are eligible.
  • An additional taxi voucher to make sure you get home comfortably.

ELIGIBILITY

Young people aged 16-25 are being recruited for one of two participant groups:

  • People who have experienced depression within the past two years.
  • People who have never experienced mental health difficulties.

For this particular study, we unfortunately cannot accept participants who:

  • Have travelled across time zones in the past month
  • Are currently doing shift work (work outside of 7am-6pm)
  • Are currently pregnant of breastfeeding
  • Have been diagnosed with other mental health disorders (like bipolar or psychosis), a neurodevelopmental disorder (like autism or ADHD), a neurological condition (like migraine, stroke, or epilepsy), or a sleep disorder (like sleep apnoea or narcolepsy).  

RECRUITMENT

Participation in the study is completely voluntary and researchers will ensure participants have all information about the study before they provide consent.

For more details, please complete the form below and a researcher will get back to you.

Have you either: