The subcortical correlates of self-reported sleep quality

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Sleep Science
• Neuroimaging

Background:

• Self-reported sleep quality is a crucial indicator of overall health.
• Understanding the neurobiological underpinnings of sleep quality is essential for developing targeted interventions.
• Previous research has explored the relationship between sleep and brain structure, but specific morphometric associations require further investigation.

Purpose of the Study:

• To investigate the association between self-reported sleep quality and local morphometry of cortical and subcortical brain regions.
• To identify specific brain structures that correlate with variations in sleep quality.

Main Methods:

• Utilized data from 1,112 young adults from the Human Connectome Project dataset.
• Assessed sleep quality using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI).
• Measured local cortical and subcortical morphometry using voxel-based morphometry and shape analysis, employing general linear models and nonparametric permutation testing.

Main Results:

• Found significant associations between poorer sleep quality and reduced morphometric measures in subcortical regions, including the bilateral caudate, putamen, and left pallidum.
• These associations were independent of demographic and biometric factors such as age, sex, and BMI.
• Cortical morphometry and other subcortical regions did not show direct associations with sleep quality but interacted with demographic variables.

Conclusions:

• Established a specific link between self-reported sleep quality and subcortical morphometry, particularly within the striatum and pallidum.
• Reinforced the role of these subcortical regions in the regulation of sleep.
• Highlighted the importance of considering subcortical morphology in sleep research and identified potential targets for sleep-related interventions.