Effects of Auditory Stimulation on Sleep and Memory in Schizophrenia

Study Overview
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Brief Summary
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The investigators will test the hypothesis that auditory stimulation (playing quiet sounds during sleep) can normalize brain activity during sleep and improve memory in patients with schizophrenia. The investigators will do this by measuring sleep and memory performance under two conditions separated by one week: receiving auditory stimulation during sleep and not receiving auditory stimulation during sleep. The investigators will study healthy subjects and outpatients with schizophrenia.

Official Title
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Effects of Auditory Stimulation on Sleep and Memory in Schizophrenia

Conditions
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Schizophrenia

Intervention / Treatment
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* Other: Placebo
* Other: Auditory Stimulation


Participation Criteria
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Eligibility Criteria
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Inclusion Criteria: For healthy controls: Male and female subjects 18-50 years of age Proficient in English For schizophrenia patients: Male and female schizophrenia outpatients 18-50 years of age Proficient in English Able to give informed consent Exclusion Criteria: Pregnant females Current use of psychotropic medications (healthy controls only) A history of head injury resulting in prolonged loss of consciousness or other neurological sequelae IQ <85 Neurological disorder (including seizure disorder) Significant hearing or vision loss Current substance abuse or dependence (nicotine abuse or dependence is not exclusionary) Any unstable chronic medical condition that affects sleep Diagnosed sleep disorder

Ages Eligible for Study
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Minimum Age: 18 Years
Maximum Age: 50 Years

Sexes Eligible for Study
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All

Accepts Healthy Volunteers
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Accepts Healthy Volunteers

Study Plan
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How is the study designed?
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Design Details

Primary Purpose: Other
Allocation: Randomized
Intervention Model: Crossover Assignment
Masking: Single


Arms and Interventions

| Participant Group/Arm | Intervention/Treatment |
| --- | --- |
| Experimental: Schizophrenia<br>Adult outpatients with a diagnosis of schizophrenia. | Other: Placebo<br>* Auditory stimulation will not be delivered during the nap<br>Other: Auditory Stimulation<br>* Auditory stimulation will be delivered during the nap<br>|
| Experimental: Healthy Controls<br>Adult participants screened to exclude a personal history of mental illness, family history of schizophrenia spectrum disorder, and psychoactive medication use. | Other: Placebo<br>* Auditory stimulation will not be delivered during the nap<br>Other: Auditory Stimulation<br>* Auditory stimulation will be delivered during the nap<br>|

What is the study measuring?
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Primary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences in slow-oscillation spindle coupling | Differences in slow oscillation-spindle coupling during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep as measured by EEG between placebo and auditory stimulation naps | Placebo and auditory stimulation naps will be approximately one week apart | 

Secondary Outcome Measures

| Outcome Measure | Measure Description | Time Frame |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Differences in sleep-dependent consolidation of motor procedural memory | Differences in sleep-dependent improvement of motor procedural memory performance on the finger tapping motor sequence task (MST) between placebo and auditory stimulation naps. The MST involves pressing four numerically labeled keys on a standard keypad, repeating a 5 digit sequence as quickly and accurately as possible for 12 trials at 30 seconds each separated by 30 sec rest periods. Different sequences are employed for the placebo and stimulation visits in a counter-balanced order. | Placebo and auditory stimulation naps will be approximately one week apart | 
| Differences in slow oscillations | Differences in slow oscillations during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep as measured by EEG between placebo and auditory stimulation naps | Placebo and auditory stimulation naps will be approximately one week apart | 
| Differences in sleep spindles | Differences in sleep spindles during non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep as measured by EEG between placebo and auditory stimulation naps | Placebo and auditory stimulation naps will be approximately one week apart | 

 Terms related to the study
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Keywords Provided by Centre Hospitalier Valida
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sleep, memory, schizophrenia, auditory stimulation