This research article from Sleep Medicine Reviews proposes an updated bidirectional model for understanding the complex relationship between technology use and sleep. The authors, Bauducco et al., challenge previous unidirectional theories by asserting that sleep problems can also influence technology use, not just the other way around. The article thoroughly examines established mechanisms like bright light and arousal hypotheses, finding their impact on sleep less significant than often assumed. It also introduces and supports "sleep displacement" and "nighttime sleep disruption" as key mechanisms where technology significantly impacts sleep, along with new mechanisms where technology acts as a "time filler" or "emotion regulation tool" when sleep is difficult. Finally, the authors explore individual risk and protective factors like self-control and parental rules, offering implications for future research and public health messaging to promote healthier technology habits for sleep.

https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2024.101933

This episode investigates the relationship between Obstructive Sleep Apnea-Hypopnea Syndrome (OSAHS) and cognitive impairment by examining changes in brain activity. Using resting-state functional MRI (rs-fMRI), the study compared brain activity in severe OSAHS patients to healthy individuals, analyzing Regional Homogeneity (ReHo) and fractional Amplitude of Low-Frequency Fluctuation (fALFF) values. The findings indicate that OSAHS patients exhibit altered brain activity in specific regions, correlating with reduced cognitive function as measured by MoCA scores. Furthermore, the identified abnormal brain regions proved effective in distinguishing OSAHS patients from healthy controls, offering insights into the neurological mechanisms underlying OSAHS-related cognitive deficits.

Now let's investigate the bidirectional relationship between daily mood and nightly sleep in adolescents. The authors explain that inadequate sleep is prevalent among U.S. adolescents and linked to daytime sleepiness and emotional symptoms. The study aims to bridge a research gap by examining how daily happiness and negative mood influence sleep, and vice-versa, using both subjective (self-report) and objective (actigraphy) measures over a week. While some findings aligned with expectations, counter-intuitive results emerged with objective sleep data, suggesting negative mood correlates with objectively better sleep. The research highlights the complex interplay between mood and sleep during adolescence and the importance of multi-method assessment.