154 Cortical thickness and sleep slow wave activity mediates age-related improvements in cognition during late adolescence

Abstract Introduction Adolescence is a period of rapid brain maturation, and studies have independently documented reductions in cortical thickness, reduced sleep slow wave activity (0.5-4Hz), and improved cognition as a child transitions into adulthood. In the present work, we investigate whether these factors interact in late adolescence. Methods 114 adolescents aged 15-19y (52 males) underwent a structural MRI scan, polysomnography (PSG) and a series of cognitive tests assessing fluid intelligence, sustained attention, speed of processing and working memory. As sleep history has been known to affect EEG measures of slow wave activity, actigraphic recordings ensured that participants received 9h of night the week prior to the PSG session. Cognitive scores were combined to obtain a single measure of global cognition. For assessment of cortical thickness, the Freesurfer (v5.3) pipeline was used to obtain measures for all regions of interest from the Desikan-Killiany cortical atlas. Pearson correlations were conducted to independently confirm associations between aging and reductions in cortical thickness, slow wave activity and improved global cognition, controlling for sex. Finally, a serial mediation model (SPSS PROCESS Model 6) was performed to test the mediating role of cortical thickness and slow wave activity between aging and global cognition. Results Reductions in EEG sleep slow wave activity, cortical thickness and improved global cognition was observed with increasing age, likely representing synaptic pruning and a decrease in waking metabolic activity that contributes to increased overall neural efficiency. Regions in the temporal and parietal areas showed the steepest age-related reductions. In addition, the age-related improvement in cognition was found to be mediated by both cortical thinning as well as reduced SWA activity, particularly in the middle temporal cortex. Conclusion The adolescent brain undergoes rapid growth in preparation for adulthood. Cortical restructuring through pruning of neural circuits during this period is associated with reduced slow wave activity, mediating the age-related improvement in cognition. Future work should investigate whether insults to the brain during this critical period alters this trajectory. Support (if any) This work was supported by grants awarded to Michael Chee (NMRC/STaR/015/2013, NRF2016-SOL002-001 and the Far East Organization).

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150 Impact of Behavioral Disorders and their Pharmacological Treatment on the Maturational Trajectories of NREM Slow Wave Activity

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab072.149 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽

pp. A61-A62

Author(s):

Julio Fernandez-Mendoza ◽

Anna Ricci ◽

Fan He ◽

Jidong Fang ◽

Susan Calhoun ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Behavioral Disorders ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Pharmacological Treatment ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Brain Maturation ◽

Delta Power ◽

Age Related ◽

Transition To Adolescence

Abstract Introduction Slow wave activity (SWA) in the delta (0.4-4 Hz) frequency range declines in typically developing (TD) children as they transition to adolescence. However, it remains unknown whether the maturational trajectory of NREM delta power differs between TD youth and those with psychiatric/behavioral disorders. Methods We analyzed the sleep EEG of 664 subjects aged 6 to 21 (46.8% female, 24.7% racial/ethnic minority) from the Penn State Child Cohort, of whom 449 were TD, 123 were un-medicated and diagnosed with psychiatric/behavioral disorders, and 92 were medicated with stimulants, anti-depressants, anxiolytics, sedatives and/or anti-psychotics. Multivariable regression models adjusting for sex, race/ethnicity, BMI, AHI and PSG system tested the age-related trajectories of NREM delta power within each diagnostic group. Results Delta power in TD and un-medicated youth showed cubic age-related trajectories (both p-cubic<0.05). In TD youth, delta power was highest at age 6.6 and lowest at age 19.9, while in un-medicated youth it was highest at age 8.9 and lowest at age 18.6. The decreasing slope in delta power was 39.7% steeper in un-medicated youth (-22422 ± 5891/year, p<0.01) than TD youth (-16047 ± 2605/year, p<0.01). Delta power in medicated youth showed a distinct linearly decreasing trajectory (-13518 ± 4597/year, p-linear<0.01) from age 6 (highest) to age 21 (lowest). Conclusion TD and un-medicated youth with psychiatric/behavioral disorders show SWA trajectories typical of brain maturation biomarkers (e.g., gray matter volume), characterized by a decreasing slope at the onset of puberty that reaches its nadir by late adolescence. However, SWA in un-medicated youth peaks two years later and reaches its nadir a year earlier than in TD youth. Thus, while TD children experience a smooth decline in SWA in the transition to adolescence, those with psychiatric/behavioral disorders experience a faster steep decline. In contrast, SWA in medicated youth appears to be dampened in early childhood and its slope linearly decreases with age. These data suggest that these youth may have a more severe disorder requiring pharmacological treatment, that the latter produces greater cortical arousability reflected in lower SWA power, and/or that psychoactive medications directly impact normal neurodevelopmental processes (e.g., synaptic pruning). Support (if any) NIH Awards Number R01MH118308, R01HL136587, R01HL97165, R01HL63772, UL1TR000127

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Cortical Thinning and Sleep Slow Wave Activity Reductions Mediate Age-Related Improvements in Cognition During Mid-Late Adolescence

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsab206 ◽

2021 ◽

Author(s):

Ju Lynn Ong ◽

S Azrin Jamaluddin ◽

Jesisca Tandi ◽

Nicholas I Y N Chee ◽

Ruth L F Leong ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Thickness ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Cognitive Test ◽

Cognitive Tasks ◽

Verbal Intelligence ◽

Speed Of Processing ◽

Cortical Thinning ◽

Age Related

Abstract Study Objectives Gains in cognitive test performance that occur during adolescence are associated with brain maturation. Cortical thinning and reduced sleep slow wave activity (SWA) are markers of such developmental changes. Here we investigate whether they mediate age-related improvements in cognition. Methods 109 adolescents aged 15-19y (49 males) underwent magnetic resonance imaging, polysomnography (PSG) and a battery of cognitive tasks within a 2-month time window. Cognitive tasks assessed non-verbal intelligence, sustained attention, speed of processing and working memory and executive function. To minimize the effect of sleep history on SWA and cognitive performance, PSG and test batteries were administered only after at least 8 nights of 9-h time-in-bed (TIB) sleep opportunity. Results Age-related improvements in speed of processing (r = 0.33, p = 0.001) and non-verbal intelligence (r = 0.24, p = 0.01) domains were observed. These cognitive changes were associated with reduced cortical thickness, particularly in bilateral temporoparietal regions (rs = -0.21 to -0.45, ps < 0.05), as well as SWA (r = -0.35, p < 0.001). Serial mediation models found that ROIs in the middle/superior temporal cortices, together with SWA mediated the age-related improvement observed on cognition. Conclusions During adolescence, age-related improvements in cognition are mediated by reductions in cortical thickness and sleep slow wave activity.

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Age-related changes in slow wave activity rise time and NREM sleep EEG with and without zolpidem in healthy young and older adults

Sleep Medicine ◽

10.1016/j.sleep.2014.05.007 ◽

2014 ◽

Vol 15 (9) ◽

pp. 1037-1045 ◽

Cited By ~ 14

Author(s):

Evan D. Chinoy ◽

Danielle J. Frey ◽

Daniel N. Kaslovsky ◽

Francois G. Meyer ◽

Kenneth P. Wright

Keyword(s):

Older Adults ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Rise Time ◽

Nrem Sleep ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Sleep Eeg ◽

Age Related ◽

Age Related Changes

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The mediating role of cortical thickness and gray matter volume on sleep slow-wave activity during adolescence

Brain Structure and Function ◽

10.1007/s00429-017-1509-9 ◽

2017 ◽

Vol 223 (2) ◽

pp. 669-685 ◽

Cited By ~ 23

Author(s):

Aimée Goldstone ◽

Adrian R. Willoughby ◽

Massimiliano de Zambotti ◽

Peter L. Franzen ◽

Dongjin Kwon ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cortical Thickness ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Gray Matter ◽

Gray Matter Volume ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Mediating Role ◽

Matter Volume

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Reduced Regional NREM Sleep Slow-Wave Activity Is Associated With Cognitive Impairment in Parkinson Disease

Frontiers in Neurology ◽

10.3389/fneur.2021.618101 ◽

2021 ◽

Vol 12 ◽

Author(s):

Simon J. Schreiner ◽

Lukas L. Imbach ◽

Philipp O. Valko ◽

Angelina Maric ◽

Rina Maqkaj ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Cognitive Impairment ◽

Parkinson Disease ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Slow Wave Sleep ◽

Nrem Sleep ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Dependent Manner ◽

Age Related

Growing evidence implicates a distinct role of disturbed slow-wave sleep in neurodegenerative diseases. Reduced non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep slow-wave activity (SWA), a marker of slow-wave sleep intensity, has been linked with age-related cognitive impairment and Alzheimer disease pathology. However, it remains debated if SWA is associated with cognition in Parkinson disease (PD). Here, we investigated the relationship of regional SWA with cognitive performance in PD. In the present study, 140 non-demented PD patients underwent polysomnography and were administered the Montréal Cognitive Assessment (MoCA) to screen for cognitive impairment. We performed spectral analysis of frontal, central, and occipital sleep electroencephalography (EEG) derivations to measure SWA, and spectral power in other frequency bands, which we compared to cognition using linear mixed models. We found that worse MoCA performance was associated with reduced 1–4 Hz SWA in a region-dependent manner (F2, 687 =11.67, p < 0.001). This effect was driven by reduced regional SWA in the lower delta frequencies, with a strong association of worse MoCA performance with reduced 1–2 Hz SWA (F2, 687 =18.0, p < 0.001). The association of MoCA with 1–2 Hz SWA (and 1–4 Hz SWA) followed an antero-posterior gradient, with strongest, weaker, and absent associations over frontal (rho = 0.33, p < 0.001), central (rho = 0.28, p < 0.001), and occipital derivations, respectively. Our study shows that cognitive impairment in PD is associated with reduced NREM sleep SWA, predominantly in lower delta frequencies (1–2 Hz) and over frontal regions. This finding suggests a potential role of reduced frontal slow-wave sleep intensity in cognitive impairment in PD.

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Slow-wave activity and sigma activities are associated with psychomotor development at 8 months of age

SLEEP ◽

10.1093/sleep/zsaa061 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 43 (9) ◽

Author(s):

Anna-Liisa Satomaa ◽

Tiina Mäkelä ◽

Outi Saarenpää-Heikkilä ◽

Anneli Kylliäinen ◽

Eero Huupponen ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Slow Wave ◽

Right Hemisphere ◽

Nrem Sleep ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Early Years ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Brain Maturation ◽

Psychomotor Development ◽

Fine Motor ◽

Electrophysiological Properties

Abstract Study Objectives The electrophysiological properties of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) EEG are homeostatically modulated on global and local use-dependent levels. Furthermore, the local NREM quality reflects age-dependent brain maturation and individual, age-independent, and psychomotor potential. Cortical maturation and its electrophysiological marker, Slow-wave activity (SWA), as well as sleep spindles are known to change in topography and quality during the early years of life, but their associations with psychomotor development in infants are unknown. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate the local properties of SWA and spindles (sigma power) and ascertain whether they correlate with psychomotor development in 8-month-old infants. Methods Ambulatory polysomnographies were recorded in 56 infants at 8 months of age to calculate the local SWA and sigma powers. The associations between the SWA and sigma powers and psychomotor development (Bayley-III) were examined in 36 of these infants. Results In both hemispheres, the highest SWA and sigma powers were found occipitally and centrally, respectively, with higher powers in the right hemisphere than in the left. The Bayley-III correlated with local SWA and sigma powers: the occipital SWA and centro-occipital sigma correlated with cognitive scales, and the frontal and occipital SWA and centro-occipital sigma correlated with language and fine motor scales. Most of the correlations were unilateral. Conclusions In 8-month-old infants, the NREM sleep quality shows local differences that are mostly attributable to the topical phase of brain maturation. The local NREM parameters correlate with psychomotor development.

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Sa1640 NONINVASIVE MEASUREMENT OF SMALL BOWEL SLOW WAVE ACTIVITY IN NEONATES - A PILOT STUDY

Gastroenterology ◽

10.1016/s0016-5085(20)31606-1 ◽

2020 ◽

Vol 158 (6) ◽

pp. S-364

Author(s):

Suseela Somarajan ◽

Nicole D. Muszynski ◽

Aurelia s. Monk ◽

Joseph D. Olson ◽

Alexandra Russell ◽

...

Keyword(s):

Pilot Study ◽

Small Bowel ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Noninvasive Measurement

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Slow Wave Activity Related to Working Memory Maintenance in the N-Back Task

Journal of Psychophysiology ◽

10.1027/0269-8803/a000164 ◽

2016 ◽

Vol 30 (4) ◽

pp. 141-154 ◽

Cited By ~ 7

Author(s):

Kira Bailey ◽

Gregory Mlynarczyk ◽

Robert West

Keyword(s):

Working Memory ◽

Slow Wave ◽

Time Course ◽

Relevant Information ◽

Wave Activity ◽

Slow Wave Activity ◽

Response Accuracy ◽

Functional Neuroanatomy ◽

Stimulus Interval ◽

Back Task

Abstract. Working memory supports our ability to maintain goal-relevant information that guides cognition in the face of distraction or competing tasks. The N-back task has been widely used in cognitive neuroscience to examine the functional neuroanatomy of working memory. Fewer studies have capitalized on the temporal resolution of event-related brain potentials (ERPs) to examine the time course of neural activity in the N-back task. The primary goal of the current study was to characterize slow wave activity observed in the response-to-stimulus interval in the N-back task that may be related to maintenance of information between trials in the task. In three experiments, we examined the effects of N-back load, interference, and response accuracy on the amplitude of the P3b following stimulus onset and slow wave activity elicited in the response-to-stimulus interval. Consistent with previous research, the amplitude of the P3b decreased as N-back load increased. Slow wave activity over the frontal and posterior regions of the scalp was sensitive to N-back load and was insensitive to interference or response accuracy. Together these findings lead to the suggestion that slow wave activity observed in the response-to-stimulus interval is related to the maintenance of information between trials in the 1-back task.

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