SLEEP Advances
October 21, 2026
Alisa Huskey, Jungwon Cha, Lindsey L Hildebrand et al.
Abstract Dysfunction in default mode network (DMN) connectivity plays a role in the etiology and maintenance of insomnia symptoms. Negative self-referential thinking is a perpetuating factor of insomnia that has been linked with DMN connectivity. The Bed Nucleus of the Stria Terminalis (BNST), part of the extended-amygdala pathway, facilitates cognitive and physiological hyperarousal. We...
SLEEPJ
May 8, 2026
Alexei Kotov, Andrea Diaz-Pacheco, Patricia Molina et al.
Abstract Introduction Previous research has linked nightmares to anxiety, depression, and poor sleep quality. However, much less is known about how nightmares intersect with acculturation patterns and bicultural experiences in border communities. Understanding the connection between nightmares and acculturation is especially important in contexts where cultural identity, discrimination, and...
Sleep
April 20, 2024
David Negelspach, Anna Alkozei, Alisa Huskey et al.
Abstract: Introduction: Decoupling patterns of sleep and wake from underlying circadian oscillations is associated with poor sleep health. While this has been studied with respect to shift work, it is unclear if minor variations in normative sleep/wake patterns affect the restoration of cognitive function during sleep intervals while controlling for total sleep time. It is commonplace to adhere...
JMIR Research Protocols
January 26, 2024
Lindsey L Hildebrand, Alisa Huskey, Natalie S Dailey et al.
Background Cortical hyperarousal and ruminative thinking are common aspects of insomnia that have been linked with greater connectivity in the default mode network (DMN). Therefore, disrupting network activity within the DMN may reduce cortical and cognitive hyperarousal and facilitate better sleep. Objective This trial aims to establish a novel, noninvasive method for treating insomnia through...
Neuroreport
October 4, 2023
William D. S. Killgore, Samantha Jankowski, Kymberly Henderson-Arredondo et al.
19 citations
Insomnia is often accompanied by excessive pre-sleep rumination. Such ruminative thinking is also associated with increased connectivity of the default mode network (DMN). It is likely that DMN connectivity and associated rumination contribute to the pathogenesis of insomnia. We hypothesized that resting state functional connectivity (rsFC) between the DMN and other brain regions prior to...
Emotion
August 3, 2023
Ryan Smith, Michelle R. Persich, Anne E. Chuning et al.
Socio-emotional skills, such as the ability to recognize, understand, and regulate the emotions of self and others, are associated with both physical and emotional health. The present study tested the effectiveness of a recently validated online training program for increasing these emotional skills in adults. In this study, 448 participants (323 female) were randomly assigned to complete this...
Journal of Sleep Research
August 18, 2021
Kathryn Kennedy, Célyne Bastien, Perrine Ruby et al.
25 citations
Nightmares are often associated with psychiatric disorders and acute stress. This study explores how the COVID-19 pandemic may have influenced the content of nightmares. A sample of N = 419 US adults completed online surveys about sleep and COVID-19 experiences. Participants were asked about the degree to which they agreed with statements linking greater general stress, worse overall sleep and...
Sleep
May 3, 2021
Chloe Wills, Kathryn Kennedy, Célyne Bastien et al.
Abstract Introduction During the COVID-19 pandemic, individuals have faced unprecedented events, which are often stressful. Stress has an important impact on dreams, and stress-induced sleep difficulties may also impact dream recall. The present study evaluated associations between sleep, stress and dream content on dream recall during the pandemic. Methods A sample of N=419 US adults completed...
Sleep
May 1, 2021
Tommy Begay, Dora Valencia, Sadia Ghani et al.
Abstract Introduction The COVID-19 pandemic has impacted individuals in many ways, including anecdotal reports of nightmares. However, little data exists regarding the experience of COVID-related nightmares, especially among the distressed population at the US-Mexico Border. This is especially relevant given the clinical importance of nightmares as risk factors for poor mental health and sleep...
May 27, 2020
A. Bullock, A. Burns, Anna Alkozei et al.
Disturbing dreams and nightmares are common in individuals with post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). At present, little research has investigated the associations between nightmares and cognition in these individuals. However, a robust body of research has shown memory and attention impairments among those with PTSD. The present study sought to investigate the potential relationships between...
April 27, 2018
S. Liu, A. Athey, William D. S. Killgore et al.
Student athletes are known to demonstrate high rates of common sleep symptoms. Less common sleep symptoms that are more prevalent in younger adults, such as sleep paralysis and hypnogogic/hypnopompic hallucinations, have not been studied. In particular, their role in mental health, independent of insufficient sleep duration or insomnia, has not been evaluated in this group. Data were collected...