Multimodal Neuroimaging Signature of Sleep Problems Predicts Preadolescent Mental Health Trajectories

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Developmental Psychology
• Child Psychiatry

Background:

• Childhood sleep-related problems (SRP) are prevalent and significant for mental health.
• Neural mechanisms and long-term mental health links of SRP are not well understood.

Purpose of the Study:

• Investigate how SRP dimensions relate to brain structure and function in preadolescents.
• Determine if neural signatures of SRP predict mental health trajectories over two years.

Main Methods:

• Utilized multivariate mapping on the Adolescent Brain Cognitive Development (ABCD) dataset.
• Analyzed relationships between brain morphology, functional connectivity, and SRP dimensions.
• Examined prediction of internalizing and externalizing behaviors using identified neural patterns.

Main Results:

• Identified two SRP dimensions: general sleep disturbance and hypersomnolence/parasomnia.
• Each SRP dimension showed distinct brain morphology and functional connectivity patterns.
• Both dimensions shared disruptions in somatosensory, attention, and default mode networks.
• Neural patterns linked to general sleep disturbance predicted longitudinal internalizing/externalizing symptoms.

Conclusions:

• Findings clarify neurobiological underpinnings of childhood SRP dimensions.
• Neural signatures, particularly for general sleep disturbance, predict mental health trajectories.
• Results may inform brain-based interventions for sleep and mental health in children.