Sleep DeprivationNCT01823263
Metabolic and Cognitive Parameters Following Partial Sleep Deprivation
A study testing Portion Size Task, Blood sample and Interference task in people with Sleep Deprivation and Sleep, run by Uppsala University at 1 site in Sweden.
Trial summary
The purpose of this study is to determine whether partial sleep deprivation, as compared with normal sleep, influences certain metabolic and cognitive parameters, related to food intake, hunger and memory functions, when participants are shielded from external time cues. Read more about this study
- Who is it for?
- Ages 20 to 28 years, men onlyHealthy volunteers can take part
- Conditions the study is for
- Sleep Deprivation, Sleep
- What is being tested?
- Portion Size Task, Blood sample and Interference task
- Type of treatment
- Surgery or procedure, Lifestyle or therapy programme
- Could I receive a placebo?
- No, everyone receives an active treatment
- How many people
- 18 participants
- Where
- 1 siteSweden
- Study dates
- Apr 2013to Sep 2014
- Phase
- Interventional
- Are there results?
- None posted in the registry
Key requirements
Who can take part, as listed by the sponsor. Only the study team can confirm whether you are eligible, so take this list to your doctor.
- Ages 20 to 28 years
- Men only
- Healthy volunteers accepted
- Adult
Who may be able to join
- Male
- Age 20-28y
- Healthy (self-reported) and not on medication
- Non-smoking
- Normal sleep-wake rhythm (i.e. 7-8 h per night, self-reported and verified by sleep diaries)
- Normal dietary habits (regular meal pattern with daily breakfast)
Who cannot join
- Major illness
- Taking any serious medications
- Any sleep conditions (e.g. irregular bedtimes, sleep complaints)
- Any dietary issues with the food items provided
- A history of endocrine, neurological or psychiatric disorders
- Shift work in the previous 3 months
- Travel over several time zones within the previous two months
Trial locations and contacts
1 site in 1 country.
Sweden1 site
Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University
Uppsala, Uppsala County, 75105
About this study
Official title: Metabolic and Cognitive Effects of Sleep Deprivation
The purpose of this study is to determine whether partial sleep deprivation, as compared with normal sleep, influences certain metabolic and cognitive parameters, related to food intake, hunger and memory functions, when participants are shielded from external time cues.
Read the detailed description
It is predicted that partial sleep deprivation negatively affects the hormonal status, e.g. upregulating ghrelin and other hunger-promoting hunger hormones, while showing impaired memory functions. It is also predicted that participants will tend to increase their desired portion sizes after partial sleep deprivation, compared with after a normal night's sleep.
- Conditions
- Sleep Deprivation, Sleep
- Being tested
- Portion Size Task, Blood sample, Interference task, Memory tasks, Intake task
- Medical subject headings
- Sleep Deprivation
What participants receive
What participants receive. In a randomised study each person is assigned to one group by chance.
Portion Size TaskBehavioural
Participants are given a computer program that gives them the opportunity to choose the portions of a variety of food items that they would ideally like to consume
Blood sampleProcedure or surgery
In the morning following partial sleep deprivation or normal sleep, a blood sample will be taken to assess the level of metabolism-linked and neurodegenerative-linked molecules, as well as to assay blood serum and plasma for the presence of hormones involved in hunger such as ghrelin
Interference taskProcedure or surgery
30-minute interference task
Memory tasksBehavioural
Participants will be allowed to learn a procedural memory task before going to bed. Participants will be retested in the morning to assess their change in performance. Other memory tests will also be given to assess the working memory performance in the morning following the intervention.
Intake taskBehavioural
After a normal night of sleep or partial sleep deprivation, participants are presented with an ad libitum meal choice and can select the amount to ingest during a limited time window. Amount and selection will be recorded
Working memory function taskBehavioural
Participants will be evaluated on their working memory performance in the morning following either nighttime intervention (NS or PSD)
| Study group | Role | What they receive |
|---|---|---|
| Partial sleep deprivation | Experimental | Partial sleep deprivation: participants will have a 4-h sleep opportunity before a 'Blood Sample' will be taken, and the 'Memory tasks', 'Working memory function task' and 'Portion size task' will be performed. This will be followed by an 'Interference task', followed by repeated blood sampling and an 'Intake task'. Receives: Behavioral: Portion Size Task; Procedure: Blood sample; Procedure: Interference task; Behavioral: Memory tasks; Behavioral: Intake task; Behavioral: Working memory function task |
| Normal sleep | Experimental | Normal sleep: participants will have an 8-h sleep opportunity before a 'Blood Sample' will be taken, and the 'Memory tasks', 'Working memory function task' and 'Portion size task' will be performed. This will be followed by an 'Interference task', followed with repeated blood sampling and an 'Intake task'. Receives: Behavioral: Portion Size Task; Procedure: Blood sample; Procedure: Interference task; Behavioral: Memory tasks; Behavioral: Intake task; Behavioral: Working memory function task |
What is being measured
The primary outcome is the main question the study is designed to answer.
Memory tasks
Procedural memory performance after learning a procedural memory task close to going to bed, followed by either partial sleep deprivation (PSD) or normal sleep (NS), and comparing the performance the following morning at two time points. Participants spatial memory performance in the morning at two time points, following PSD will also be compared with that following NS, after having learned such a memory task in the evening before going to bed.
Measured: Change in memory performance between learning (at 2230 hours in NS and PSD condition) before going to sleep, and at 0800 and 0930 hours (following PSD or NS)
Secondary outcomes (4)
Circulating hormone levels
Interference task given at 0900 hours
Measured: Change in circulating hormone levels and other metabolism-linked and neurodegeneration-associated molecules at 0730, 0830, 0910, 0925, 0940, 1010, 1040, 1105, and 1150 hours following the respective nighttime intervention and after the interference task
Intake task
Participants are presented with an ad libitum meal choice and can select the amount to ingest during a limited time window. Amount and selection will be recorded.
Measured: Change in intake at around 1200 hours, following the respective nighttime intervention (NS or PSD)
Working memory function task
Participants will be evaluated on their working memory performance in the morning following either nighttime intervention (NS or PSD) and before and after an interference task
Measured: Change in memory performance at 0800 hours and after the interference task again at 0930 hours (between and following PSD or NS)
Portion Size Task
Participants will be evaluated on their tendency to choose larger or smaller portions of a variety of meal items on a computer screen. This will be conducted both following partial sleep deprivation and normal sleep, and changes before and after a short interference task will be compared between these two conditions.
Measured: Change in selected portion size from baseline (at 0800 hours following the nighttime intervention), to one hour later, i.e. after an interference task
Timeline
From the start of the study to its completion; the mark is today. Estimated dates are the sponsor’s plan.
- First posted4 Apr 2013 (estimated)
- Study startApr 2013
- Primary completionSep 2014
- Study completionSep 2014
Resources
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govThe registry entry this page is built from, with its full change history.
- Other trials for Sleep DeprivationStudies of the same condition, open and under way.
- More trials run by Uppsala UniversityThe sponsor's other registered studies.
- What the trial phases meanHow a treatment moves from first tests in people to approval.
More details
For doctors and researchers: how the study is designed, who runs it, and its registry IDs.
Study design
- Study type
- Interventional
- Phase
- Phase N/A
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind
- Who is masked
- Participant
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
Sponsor and investigators
- Lead sponsor
- Uppsala University
- Sponsor type
- University, hospital or other
- Responsible party
- Sponsor
- Investigators
- Christian Benedict, PhD, Principal investigator, Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University
IDs, dates and publications
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01823263
- Sponsor's protocol ID
- SleepPartialJCCB2013
- Status last verified
- Aug 2026
- First submitted
- 21 Feb 2013
- Last updated
- 12 Aug 2026
- Results posted
- No
- Data monitoring committee
- No
Study at a glance
From the registry record, last updated by the sponsor on 12 Aug 2026. Recruitment status is as the sponsor reported it: confirm with the study team.
- Official title
- Metabolic and Cognitive Effects of Sleep Deprivation
- ClinicalTrials.gov ID
- NCT01823263
- Acronym / sponsor ID
- SleepPartialJCCB2013
- Conditions
- Sleep Deprivation, Sleep
- Study type
- Interventional
- Recruitment status
- Completed
- Enrolment
- 18 participants (actual)
- Lead sponsor
- Uppsala UniversityUniversity, hospital or other
- Study start
- Apr 2013 (actual)
- Primary completion
- Sep 2014 (actual)
- Study completion
- Sep 2014 (actual)
- First posted
- 4 Apr 2013 (estimated)
- Results
- Not posted in the source record
Clinical summary
The research question as the sponsor registered it. This describes what the study plans to test, not what it found.
The purpose of this study is to determine whether partial sleep deprivation, as compared with normal sleep, influences certain metabolic and cognitive parameters, related to food intake, hunger and memory functions, when participants are shielded from external time cues.
Detailed description
It is predicted that partial sleep deprivation negatively affects the hormonal status, e.g. upregulating ghrelin and other hunger-promoting hunger hormones, while showing impaired memory functions. It is also predicted that participants will tend to increase their desired portion sizes after partial sleep deprivation, compared with after a normal night's sleep.
Study design
- Primary purpose
- Basic science
- Allocation
- Randomised
- Intervention model
- Crossover
- Masking
- Single blind (participant)
- Number of arms
- 2
| Arm | Type | Receives |
|---|---|---|
| Partial sleep deprivation | Experimental | Behavioral: Portion Size Task, Procedure: Blood sample, Procedure: Interference task, Behavioral: Memory tasks, Behavioral: Intake task, Behavioral: Working memory function taskPartial sleep deprivation: participants will have a 4-h sleep opportunity before a 'Blood Sample' will be taken, and the 'Memory tasks', 'Working memory function task' and 'Portion size task' will be performed. This will be followed by an 'Interference task', followed by repeated blood sampling and an 'Intake task'. |
| Normal sleep | Experimental | Behavioral: Portion Size Task, Procedure: Blood sample, Procedure: Interference task, Behavioral: Memory tasks, Behavioral: Intake task, Behavioral: Working memory function taskNormal sleep: participants will have an 8-h sleep opportunity before a 'Blood Sample' will be taken, and the 'Memory tasks', 'Working memory function task' and 'Portion size task' will be performed. This will be followed by an 'Interference task', followed with repeated blood sampling and an 'Intake task'. |
Who may qualify
- Ages
- 20 to 28 years
- Sex
- Male only
- Healthy volunteers
- Accepted
- Age groups
- Adult
Key inclusion criteria (6 listed)
- Male
- Age 20-28y
- Healthy (self-reported) and not on medication
- Non-smoking
- Normal sleep-wake rhythm (i.e. 7-8 h per night, self-reported and verified by sleep diaries)
Key exclusion criteria (7 listed)
- Major illness
- Taking any serious medications
- Any sleep conditions (e.g. irregular bedtimes, sleep complaints)
- Any dietary issues with the food items provided
- A history of endocrine, neurological or psychiatric disorders
Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening; this overview does not establish that a patient qualifies. Full inclusion and exclusion criteria.
Interventions
| Intervention | Type | Arms |
|---|---|---|
| Portion Size TaskParticipants are given a computer program that gives them the opportunity to choose the portions of a variety of food items that they would ideally like to consume | Behavioural | Normal sleep, Partial sleep deprivation |
| Blood sampleIn the morning following partial sleep deprivation or normal sleep, a blood sample will be taken to assess the level of metabolism-linked and neurodegenerative-linked molecules, as well as to assay blood serum and plasma for the presence of hormones involved in hunger such as ghrelin | Procedure or surgery | Normal sleep, Partial sleep deprivation |
| Interference task30-minute interference task | Procedure or surgery | Normal sleep, Partial sleep deprivation |
| Memory tasksParticipants will be allowed to learn a procedural memory task before going to bed. Participants will be retested in the morning to assess their change in performance. Other memory tests will also be given to assess the working memory performance in the morning following the intervention. | Behavioural | Normal sleep, Partial sleep deprivation |
| Intake taskAfter a normal night of sleep or partial sleep deprivation, participants are presented with an ad libitum meal choice and can select the amount to ingest during a limited time window. Amount and selection will be recorded | Behavioural | Normal sleep, Partial sleep deprivation |
| Working memory function taskParticipants will be evaluated on their working memory performance in the morning following either nighttime intervention (NS or PSD) | Behavioural | Normal sleep, Partial sleep deprivation |
Primary outcome
Memory tasks
Time frame: Change in memory performance between learning (at 2230 hours in NS and PSD condition) before going to sleep, and at 0800 and 0930 hours (following PSD or NS)
Procedural memory performance after learning a procedural memory task close to going to bed, followed by either partial sleep deprivation (PSD) or normal sleep (NS), and comparing the performance the following morning at two time points. Participants spatial memory performance in the morning at two time points, following PSD will also be compared with that following NS, after having learned such a memory task in the evening before going to bed.
4 secondary outcomes
Circulating hormone levels
Time frame: Change in circulating hormone levels and other metabolism-linked and neurodegeneration-associated molecules at 0730, 0830, 0910, 0925, 0940, 1010, 1040, 1105, and 1150 hours following the respective nighttime intervention and after the interference task
Intake task
Time frame: Change in intake at around 1200 hours, following the respective nighttime intervention (NS or PSD)
Working memory function task
Time frame: Change in memory performance at 0800 hours and after the interference task again at 0930 hours (between and following PSD or NS)
Portion Size Task
Time frame: Change in selected portion size from baseline (at 0800 hours following the nighttime intervention), to one hour later, i.e. after an interference task
Results and safety
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
Research links
- Official record on ClinicalTrials.govLast updated by the sponsor 12 Aug 2026.
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Referral and contact
AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals. Contact the study team or a site listed below; they decide who can take part. This study is not recruiting at the moment.
Christian Benedict, PhD principal investigator
Department of Neuroscience, Uppsala University
1 site in 1 country: see every site and its status.
Questions about this trial
What is this clinical trial studying?
A study testing Portion Size Task, Blood sample and Interference task in people with Sleep Deprivation and Sleep, run by Uppsala University at 1 site in Sweden.
The full registered description is in the About this study section and the official record.
Who may be eligible to take part?
The sponsor lists 6 inclusion and 7 exclusion criteria. Eligibility is decided by the study team after screening, so read the full criteria and contact a listed site.
Is this clinical trial currently recruiting?
The record says: finished, as of the sponsor's last update on 12 Aug 2026. Status can change between updates, so confirm with the study contact before making plans.
Where is the study taking place?
The record lists 1 site in Sweden. Whether a site is taking part right now should be confirmed with that site. See every site.
What are the possible benefits and risks?
They depend on the study and the treatment, and no study can promise a benefit. The study team explains the known risks during informed consent, before anyone joins; the record itself does not list them.
Are results available for this study?
The study is completed, but results are not available in the source record. That does not mean the treatment did or did not work.
How can a doctor refer a patient or contact the research team?
The record lists no contact. The official record names the sponsor, who can be asked directly. AzTrials does not enrol participants or take referrals.
What does the primary outcome measure?
Memory tasks (time frame: Change in memory performance between learning (at 2230 hours in NS and PSD condition) before going to sleep, and at 0800 and 0930 hours (following PSD or NS)). It is what the study was designed to measure, not a finding.
Where can I read the original study information?
Does a listing mean the treatment is approved or proven to work?
No. A listing means the study is registered. It does not show that the treatment is safe, works, or is approved by a regulator.
How often is this information updated?
AzTrials copies changed records from ClinicalTrials.gov every night and reloads the whole registry every week. The sponsor last updated this record on 12 Aug 2026.