What is the study about?

Sleep is essential for our mental and physical health. A growing body of research highlights its crucial role ranging from memory consolidation to emotional regulation. Despite this, the relationship between sleep and our emotions remains only partially understood. While we know that poor sleep can negatively affect our mood, stress levels, and cognition, many questions remain unanswered.

This project sets out to investigate how sleep patterns and circadian changes influence our emotional and cognitive wellbeing. To explore this, data will be gathered from healthy, shift working and clinical populations in real-world settings that reflect typical routines and environments. This allows us to gain insights that are applicable to everyday life. By looking at the interplay between sleep, circadian rhythms, cognition, and emotions, we hope to build a more comprehensive picture of how these elements are connected.

What is involved?

If you choose to participate, for 2 weeks during each of the 4 seasons (spring, summer autumn, and winter), you will:

  • Wear an actigraph (a small watch-like device) to track your sleep patterns and physical activity along with a light sensor (a small button-like device) to track your light exposure

  • Fill in short daily diaries and questionnaires on your smart phone

  • Provide saliva samples on 3 days at home to help understand your sleep-wake timings

At the end of each 2 week period, you will be invited to have a brain scan. The scans use safe techniques and help understand how sleep impacts brain structures.

You will be rewarded you for your time. You will receive up to £210 in vouchers and a summary sleep report.

Who can take part in the study?

You may take part in study if you are between the ages of 18 to 55 years old and you are from either of the following 3 groups:

  • A standard hours daytime worker (i.e. fixed work schedules inclusive of 9am to 5pm) with no sleep/affective disorder or personal/family history of psychosis or depressive symptoms

  • A non-standard hours shift worker (i.e. variable work schedule outside of 9am to 5pm) with no sleep/affective disorder or personal/family history of psychosis or depressive symptoms

  • Have a diagnosis of schizophrenia, schizophreniform disorder or major depressive disorder with onset in at least the last 3 years

We are recruiting participants from all 3 groups from June 2025.

Interested in participating or want more information?

If you are interested in participating or would like more information about the study, please email our research team at chip-d@kmms.ac.uk, you can also click here to register your interest or scan the QR code below:

Research team

Collaborators

Technology

 
 

Funding

This study is funded by The Wellcome Trust

 

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