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Using sleep EEG for tracking longitudinal changes in brain state and waketime cognitive function

Award Number: R21HL184268
ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE
OPDIV: NIH
AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY
AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2026
PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

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Using sleep EEG for tracking longitudinal changes in brain state and waketime cognitive function - Abstract Novel multi-dimensional assessments of brain function using non-invasive electroencephalographic (EEG) signals are promising approaches for close-to-real time monitoring of the brain and other physiology. Multiple research and clinical groups have published findings using machine learning (ML) and other techniques applied to EEG signals during sleep from different healthy and clinical populations; sometimes they also correlate these results with health outcomes. Two criticisms of this work hinder the interpretation of results and the eventual application of these methods. (i) Fundamental information is missing about the night-to-night variability in EEG signals (“state”) and their dependence on modifiable behaviors (e.g., sleep loss, caffeine or other drug intake) and (ii) basic information about “normal” physiology is unknown, including the importance of “trait” (e.g., age). Such information is needed to reduce the probabilities of false positive and/or false negative conclusions at the group or individual level. In this project, we will use data already collected under highly controlled inpatient conditions in well-phenotyped individuals from multiple 2-5 week protocols conducted in the same facility with the same standardized procedures to quantify changes in the sleep EEG. The protocols include those with extended, control (i.e., 8hr)/recommended, or chronic sleep restriction durations; sleeping at night or not (e.g., such as happens with shiftwork); and/or caffeine or modafinil (stimulant) or melatonin (hypnotic) administration. During these protocols, all sleep episodes were recorded, multiple objective performance and subjective mood/alertness tests were conducted per wake episode, and a questionnaire was administered at awakening queried about self-assessed sleep quality. We will therefore be able to quantify trait vs state (including night-to-night variability) characteristics of the brain EEG in individuals and their relationships to objective and subjective metrics. Specifically, we will extend Dr. Sun’s (Co-I) work using micro- and macro-structural features of the EEG during sleep that he already applied to compute a “Brain Age Index” (BAI). The BAI correlates with the risk of disease and cognitive function. The BAI, however, was developed using single nights of sleep from a not-well phenotyped population. Our proposed work - SERIFA (Sleep EEG bRaIn Function Assessment) – will produce a Sleep Microstructure Index (SMI) with components of the EEG related to trait vs state using the data described above. The results of this project will provide information about the interpretation of results of other studies and also form the basis for additional work. Variability metrics calculated by this work will enable power calculations for future prospective clinical studies relating changes in SERIFA’s SMI to waketime exposures/interventions at individual and group levels. Data and tools (including the SERIFA software) will be made accessible on the National Sleep Research Resource, an NIH-supported website, this means that SERIFA SMI results can be available within minutes after the sleep EEG is complete for clinicians and researchers.


Issue Date FY	Funding FY	Legal Entity Name	Legal Entity Address	Legal Entity City	Legal Entity State	Legal Entity Zip Code	Legal Entity COUNTY	Legal Entity COUNTRY	Assistance Listing	Award Code	Budget Year	Action Date	Action Type	Action Amount

Issue Date FY: 2026 ( Subtotal = $266,541 )
2026	2026	THE GENERAL HOSPITAL CORPORATION	55 FRUIT ST	BOSTON	MA	02114	SUFFOLK	USA	National Center on Sleep Disorders Research	000	1	5/1/2026	NEW	$266,541
														Subtotal = $266,541

Grand Total All Awards = $266,541

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Using sleep EEG for tracking longitudinal changes in brain state and waketime cognitive function

Award Number: R21HL184268

ORGANIZATION: NATIONAL HEART, LUNG, & BLOOD INSTITUTE

OPDIV: NIH

AWARD CLASS: DISCRETIONARY

AWARD ACTIVITY TYPE: SCIENTIFIC/HEALTH RESEARCH (INCLUDES SURVEYS)

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE START DATE: 05/01/2026

PERIOD OF PERFORMANCE END DATE: 04/30/2028

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