Sleep and sleep deprivation differentially alter white matter microstructure: A mixed model design utilising advanced...

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sleep Science
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Sleep deprivation affects numerous critical brain functions.
• The impact of sleep deprivation on human brain white matter (WM) microstructure remains poorly understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the effects of 32 hours of sleep deprivation on WM microstructure.
• To compare these effects with microstructural changes occurring during a normal sleep-wake cycle (SWC).

Main Methods:

• Utilized diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) techniques, including diffusion tensor modeling, diffusion kurtosis imaging, and the spherical mean technique.
• Studied 46 healthy adults (23 sleep-deprived, 23 normal SWC) across four time points over 32 hours.

Main Results:

• Significant group × time interaction effects were observed, indicating differential impacts of sleep deprivation versus normal SWC on WM microstructure.
• Voxel-wise comparisons revealed that these effects were widespread, affecting large, bilateral WM regions.

Conclusions:

• Sleep deprivation significantly alters human brain white matter microstructure.
• These findings provide crucial insights into the neurobiological consequences of acute sleep deprivation.