Behavioral States Modulate Sensory Processing in Early Development Abstract Purpose of Review Sleep-wake states modulate cortical activity in adults. In infants, however, such modulation is less clear; indeed, early cortical activity comprises bursts of neural activity driven predominantly by peripheral sensory input. Consequently, in many studies of sensory development in rodents, sensory processing has been carefully investigated, but the modulatory role of behavioral state has typically been ignored. Recent Findings In the developing visual and somatosensory systems, it is now known that sleep and wake states modulate sensory processing. Further, in both systems, the nature of this modulation shifts rapidly during the second postnatal week, with subcortical nuclei changing how they gate sensory inputs. Summary The interactions among sleep and wake movements, sensory processing, and development are dynamic and complex. Now that established methods exist to record neural activity in unanesthetized infant animals, we can provide a more comprehensive understanding of how infant sleep-wake states interact with sensory-driven responses to promote developmental plasticity.

Merging the Biological and Cognitive Processes of Sleep and Screens Abstract Purpose of Review Screens are a permanent feature of life today and we have reached an interesting juncture with different research agendas investigating the biological and cognitive aspects of screen use separately. This review argues that it is timely and indeed essential that we bring together these research areas to fully understand both positive and negative aspects of screen use. Recent Findings More recent work is starting to take a more cohesive approach to understanding how device use pre-bedtime can impact our sleep by including both light and content in their experimental protocols which is a welcome development leading to a more nuanced understanding of both biological and cognitive processes. Summary We call for an open and collaborative approach to gain momentum in this direction of acknowledging both biological and cognitive factors enabling us to understand the relative impacts of both whilst using screens with regard to both light and content.

Electronic Media Use and Sleep: a Self-Control Perspective Abstract Purpose of Review There has been an exponential increase in publications on the effects of electronic media use on sleep. One of the fundamental questions on this topic concerns the underlying mechanisms: how or why are electronic media affecting sleep? This article aims to refine the existing theoretical framework by considering the role of self-control. Recent Findings Prior research identifies self-control processes as part of the answer: we give in to the instant gratification of entertainment media at the cost of sleep. Specifically, media-related self-control failure is likely to (1) delay bedtime and reduce sleep duration and (2) trigger negative cognitive-affective responses that may undermine sleep quality. Summary This article will review the relationships between self-control, media, and sleep and clarify how media challenge adequate self-control. It argues that a self-control perspective on media and sleep exposes complex media effect processes that warrant different research methods and open up new areas of intervention.

The Role of the Sleep-Wake Cycle in Adolescent Mental Illness Abstract Purpose of Review Considerable sleep-wake cycle changes occur throughout adolescence and young adulthood, typically involving reductions of sleep duration and sleep-wake phase delays. The purpose of this review is to synthesize current evidence regarding sleep-wake cycle and circadian rhythm disturbance in adolescence, particularly in the context of emerging mental disorders. Recent Findings The clinical presentation of sleep-wake disturbances in adolescents with emerging mood or psychotic disorders is heterogeneous and multifaceted both between individuals and across studies. Whilst the available evidence suggests that sleep-wake cycle disturbances are common in adolescents with emerging psychopathologies, there are limited studies conducted on this age group. The pathophysiological mechanisms underlying these relationships are yet to be clarified. Summary Several fundamental gaps remain in the literature concerning the role of the sleep-wake cycle in emerging adolescent psychopathology. Further research is essential to better characterize sleep-wake patterns in relation to specific mental health syndromes, and more longitudinal research is needed to elucidate causal relationships and treatment implications.

Sleep Disorders and Chronic Orofacial Pain Abstract Purpose of Review Sleep disturbances have been linked to chronic pain disorders and it has been suggested that they affect each other in a circular fashion. However, with the exception of sleep bruxism and temporomandibular disorders, very little is known about the interaction between sleep and specific orofacial pain disorders. We aimed to review and evaluate the existing knowledge about the relationship between orofacial pain and sleep disorders. Furthermore, to elaborate on management options for patients with orofacial pain and sleep disorders. Recent Findings Orofacial pain disorders such as temporomandibular disorders, burning mouth syndrome, and painful post-traumatic trigeminal neuropathy are reciprocally related to disturbances in sleep quality. Furthermore, in the case of temporomandibular disorders, it has been shown that sleep quality disturbances occur before pain onset. Regarding sleep bruxism, the recent literature seems to indicate that when sleep bruxism is assessed objectively (i.e., polysomnography), most sleep bruxism parameters do not seem to be able to explain temporomandibular disorder occurrence. Finally, very few studies have assessed the effect sleep quality improvement has on chronic orofacial pain parameters such as intensity and frequency. Summary In general, there is a lack of studies assessing the relationship between sleep disturbances and orofacial pain disorders, the exception being the relationship between sleep bruxism and TMD. The few studies that exist suggest an association between orofacial pain disorders and decreased sleep quality. As such, it is important that the orofacial pain clinician be aware of comorbid sleep disorders and a multidisciplinary and integrative approach should be used to manage these patients.

Obstructive Sleep Apnea and Pain Abstract Purpose of Review Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and pain are bi-directionally related. Sleep fragmentation and nocturnal hypoxia can worsen pain symptoms, whereas individuals suffering from chronic pain often have sleep deprivation and suffer from sleep-disordered breathing. The purpose of this review is to present recent data on the interactions between OSA and pain. Recent Findings OSA is highly prevalent among patients with chronic pain disorders especially in those who receive opioid-analgesics. Conversely, sleep fragmentation and untreated OSA could lead to worse pain outcomes. Treatment with continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) may decrease pain intensity, increase pain thresholds, and result in less opioid use. Summary Clinicians should be aware of the mutual association between pain and OSA, when assessing chronic pain patients in order to identify early and manage OSA leading ultimately to better pain outcomes.

Sleep Tracking: a Systematic Review of the Research Using Commercially Available Technology Abstract Purpose of Review To systematically review the available research studies that characterize the benefits, uncertainty, or weaknesses of commercially available sleep-tracking technology. Recent Findings Sleep is a vital component of health and well-being. Research shows that tracking sleep using commercially available sleep-tracking technology (e.g., wearable or smartphone-based) is increasingly popular in the general population. Methods Systematic literature searches were conducted using PubMed/Medline, Embase (Ovid) the Cochrane Library, PsycINFO (Ovid), CINAHL, and Web of Science Plus (which included results from BIOSIS Citation Index, InSpec, and Food, Science and Technology Abstracts) (n = 842). Study Inclusion and Exclusion Criteria Three independent reviewers reviewed eligible articles that administered a commercially available sleep tracker to participants and reported on sleep parameters as captured by the tracker, including either sleep duration or quality. Eligible articles had to include sleep data from users for > = 4 nights. Summary Seven articles met criteria for review. A wearable sleep tracker (e.g., wrist-based) was utilized to track sleep in five of the seven studies, a smartphone-based sleep tracker app was used to record sleep in two of the seven studies. Studies in this review may be characterized in several broad categories, including studies that examined: (1) sleep before and after a clinical procedure (e.g., surgery) (two studies); (2) sleep and a health-related outcome (e.g., asthma symptoms (two studies); (3) the relationship between sleep tracker data and self-reported sleep (one study); and (4) sleep tracker data before and after major political events (one study). Among the studies examining sleep tracker data and health-related outcomes, sleep tracker data was associated with health outcomes, including asthma symptoms, blood pressure, and mood.

Understanding Links Between Social Media Use, Sleep and Mental Health: Recent Progress and Current Challenges Abstract Purpose of Review Sleep and mental health researchers are increasingly recognising the need to update our approaches to understanding the unique social, emotional and cognitive aspects of social media use, rather than simply considering it as just another hour of total daily “screen time”. In this review, we highlight some recent developments in this area, discuss ongoing challenges facing this field and offer recommendations for future steps. Recent Findings The sleep and mental health research literatures have made recent advances towards a more nuanced understanding of social media use: moving beyond a focus on simply duration of use, towards new insights into the role of content, context and experience of these online interactions. Summary As this research area moves forward, a focus on high-quality measurement—combined with collaborative multidisciplinary approaches that triangulate insight from different methodologies and perspectives—can inform a more holistic understanding of sleep and mental health in today’s connected world.

Media Use and Sleep in Teenagers: What Do We Know? Abstract Purpose of Review The screen-based media landscape has changed markedly during the last decade, with 95% of American teens owning or having access to a smartphone. Coinciding with the rise in digital media devices, researchers have noted a high prevalence of insufficient sleep among youth. In this article, we review recent literature about adolescents’ screen use behaviors and sleep health outcomes published between 2015 and 2019. Recent Findings Overall, we found a high level of screen use and poor sleep health (i.e., short duration, poor quality, late timing) among adolescents. The great majority of recent observational studies demonstrated a robust inverse association between screen media device use and sleep outcomes among adolescents all over the world. Screen-based media use has also been linked to a series of adverse psychosocial and behavioral outcomes, partially if not fully mediated through impaired sleep health. Experimental data, however, offer mixed findings on the causal relationship between teen media use and sleep. In addition, there is uncertainty as to the relative roles of the proposed mechanisms underlying those relationships, whether driven by the light emitted by devices, time displacement, or the media content affecting psychological state (e.g., fear of missing out, anxiety). Summary Current empirical research demonstrates that screen-based digital media use is closely associated with sleep duration and sleep quality among teens; however, limited data show a direct causal effect of screen-based media use on adolescent sleep health. With very few studies demonstrating easy-to-implement and effective interventions, we argue that more basic, translational, and clinical research is necessary.

The Implications of Screen Media Use for the Sleep Behavior of Children Ages 0–5: a Systematic Review of the Literature Abstract Purpose of Review This literature review explores the impact of screen media consumption on the quality, quantity, regularity, and structure of sleep among children ages 0–5 years. Thirty-one studies were included for review. Recent Findings Screen media use was found to negatively impact young children’s sleep. Greater consumption of, access and exposure to, and engagement with screen media was associated with shorter nightly and total daily sleep duration, poorer sleep quality, later bed times and wake times, and longer sleep onset. Day time nap duration was inversely associated with screen media use, an outcome suggestive of delays in sleep consolidation. Summary Extant research has established problematic relations between the young children’s screen media use and sleep behavior. Future research must work to better understand the impact of young children’s screen media’s use practices on their sleep and identify the mechanisms underpinning screen media’s relations to nap and sleep consolidation.