comparison of patient set-up and output in traditional sleep studies

A computer scientist from the University of Houston and a doctor of sleep medicine at the University of Texas Health Science Center at Houston have teamed up to create a new, less invasive method of diagnosing sleep apnea. Sleep apnea is serious disorder that causes a person to momentarily stop breathing while he or she sleeps. Learn more in this news release.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation; All images in blue band at the bottom (traditional output, Thermal Infrared Imaging output, and thermal camera and computer set-up) courtesy of Computational Physiology Lab, University of Houston

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If you're over two-and-a-half years old, that "practicing assertiveness" excuse probably won't fly. But it may actually be valid for the 'diaper and drool' set. Researchers from the universities of Texas and Michigan wanted to know more about the parent-child battle for control during an age often called, "the terrible twos." Hear more in this Discovery Files podcast.
Credit: NSF/Clear Channel Communications/Karson Productions

picture of a chick and chicken with a small stack of coins

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Researchers have found that the faster baby mammals and birds grow, the more energy from food they use. In poorer areas of the world, part of the energy yielded by food might be deflected for the body's defense system in fighting disease. Children and teens in such conditions will not grow as tall or big as their healthy counterparts who were able to allocate more of their energy stores directly to growth. Read more in this news release.
Credit: Zina Deretsky, National Science Foundation

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Do daily stress and associated stress hormones impact teens and adults differently? Adriana Galv�n, a neuroscientist at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA), studies the effect of stress on brain function in adolescents and adults. Data suggest that the greatest sources of stress for teens are parents, while for adults, stress tends to come from work or schoolwork. Read more in this Discovery.
Credit: Adriana Galv�n, University of California, Los Angeles

Behavioral & Cognitive Sciences (BCS)

The Division of Behavioral and Cognitive Sciences (BCS) of the Social, Behavioral & Economic Sciences Directorate supports research to develop and advance scientific knowledge on human cognition, language, social behavior and culture, as well as research on the interactions between human societies and the physical environment.

Study Finds That Sleep Selectively Preserves Emotional Memories

Research offers new insights into the specific components of emotional memories, suggesting that sleep plays a key role in what we remember--and what we forget.

At-risk Children Who Can Self-regulate Behavior Have Higher Test Scores Than Their Peers

Researchers at Oregon State University have found mounting evidence that self-regulation--or children's ability to control their behavior and impulses--is directly related to academic performance.

Late Nights May Impact Preteen Behavior

A propensity for activities in the evening rather than in the morning may offer clues to behavioral problems in early adolescence, according to psychologists who have found that kids who prefer evenings are more likely to exhibit antisocial behavior, rule-breaking and attention problems.

November 15, 2010

Sleep Deprived Kids

Getting enough shut-eye really matters for children, and those who are poor need it the most

We all know kids, especially, need a good night's sleep in order to thrive. After studying thousands of children, psychologist Mona El-Sheikh, a professor of child development, says children who don't get enough shut-eye suffer serious consequences.

"They do not concentrate as well or perform well on tasks that are complex," she explains. "Even worse, they may be more likely to be depressed, sick or obese. Sleep is very important for brain development and also for emotional regulation."

As it turns out, what sleep gives, and what the lack of it takes away, may be magnified by poverty. "Poverty is a very, very major stressor for our children," says El-Sheikh.

With support from the National Science Foundation (NSF), El-Sheikh and her team at Auburn University are studying sleep deprivation and how it impacts kids, including those who are otherwise deprived. One week before a child comes to the lab for tests, he or she is asked to wear an actigraph to bed for seven nights. The actigraph straps onto the wrist like a watch and monitors the child's movements during the night. It also reveals how many hours of sleep the child gets each night.

On average, El-Sheikh says the children studied get about seven and a half hours of sleep. Experts say children ages five to 10 need approximately 10 to 11 hours of sleep a night.

Once their sleep is assessed, children who have volunteered for the study go through a battery of tests at El-Sheikh's lab. Team members attach leads to the kids' bodies to monitor how they react to stress--whether it's a faster heart beat or sweaty palms. Then the researchers ratchet up the stress.

Children listen to two people having an argument. They are given a time deadline to perform a series of exercises. They're asked to figure out a Rubik's cube, and trace a star while looking in a mirror--a lot more difficult than it sounds. El-Sheikh says the findings are clear. Sleep matters more for kids, and those who are poor need it most.

"Children, especially those who live in poor neighborhoods and come from more economically disadvantaged homes tend, to benefit more when they sleep better and tend to suffer more when their sleep is poor," she says.

El-Sheikh is not sure why. She thinks it may be a combination of all the stress factors in the children's lives. The good news is, if poor kids get enough rest, that seems to level the playing field.

"They do not get sick as frequently, they're less aggressive, they don't show as much depression and anxiety in the home, and they do much better at school."

So, even parents who are struggling can give their kids a big boost by sending them to bed early. It's an idea worth sleeping on.

Miles O'Brien, Science Nation Correspondent
Ann Kellan, Science Nation Producer