Our Sleep Areas of Interest
Normal sleep
Sleep is a state of reduced awareness and responsiveness, both to internal and external stimuli. However, it is an active process in which the significance of stimuli to the individual is interpreted and this determines whether arousal from sleep occurs. There are two main states of sleep: non-rapid eye movement (NREM) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep.
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In this area, we are interested in in examining the physiology and psychological aspects of sleep, using several techniques such as functional magnetic resonance imaging (fMRI), electrophysiological recordings (iEEG, EEG and MEG) and behavioural testing.
Sleep disorders
A sleep disorder is a condition that frequently impacts your ability to get enough quality sleep. While it’s normal to occasionally experience difficulties sleeping, it’s not normal to regularly have problems getting to sleep at night, to wake up feeling exhausted, or to feel sleepy during the day. The main categories of common sleep disorders are: insomnia, sleep-related breathing disorders, hypersomnias, circadian rhythm sleep disorders, parasomnias, or sleep-related movement disorder.
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In this area, we are interested in parasomnias, narcolepsy, night terrors, Periodic Limb Movements of Sleep (PLMS), Circadian Disorders including sleep phase shift disorders, or Insomnia, among others.
Sleep-breathing disorders
Sleep-breathing disorders are sleep disorders that involve difficulty breathing during sleep. Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is the most common disorder of this type, followed by snoring. OSA is due to transient closure of the upper airway during sleep. OSA are common and form a continuous spectrum ranging from normality with a few obstructions to a life-threatening state which may present qith respiratory, cardiovascular or sleep-related complications.
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In this area, we are interested in the study of sleep apnoea, obesity hypoventilation, and asthma and sleep, among others.
Sleep disorders in other medical condictions
Medical disorders often cause secondary insomnia and excessive daytime sleepiness and occasionally lead to abnormal sensory experiences and motor activity during sleep. Furthermore, sleep problems can also worsen these medical conditions, or they can be related to each other. Some of these conditions are: neurological, psychiatric, psychological, respiratory, cardiovascular, gastro-intestinal, or cancer.
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In this area, we are interested in the impact of sleep disorders in several medical conditions, such as endocrinological, neurological, psychological or psychiatric.