Tag

Wakefulness

All articles tagged with #wakefulness

Dawn wakefulness drug could help pre-dawn workers stay alert
health15 days ago

Dawn wakefulness drug could help pre-dawn workers stay alert

A NEJM Evidence trial found solriamfetol (Sunosi) improves wakefulness in early-morning workers with shift-work disorder, extending awake time by about 12.5 minutes on a full eight-hour shift versus placebo, with only modest side effects. This provides the first randomized evidence supporting a wakefulness drug for pre-dawn workers, and a follow-up trial in overnight workers is planned as a path toward formal labeling for shift-work disorder.

Dreams on Demand: The Brain Flips into Dream Narratives Across Awake and Sleep
science1 month ago

Dreams on Demand: The Brain Flips into Dream Narratives Across Awake and Sleep

A study with 92 participants using Edison-inspired wake interruptions found four mental states (C1–C4) that appear across wakefulness, sleep onset, and light sleep, including a bizarre dream-like C3 with a neural signature of reduced frontal–occipital connectivity. This shows dreaming can occur while awake, challenges the strict wake/sleep divide, and has implications for paradoxical insomnia and creative insight during wake–sleep transitions.

ADHD Brains Drift into Sleep-Like Bursts While Awake, Study Finds
health-and-medicine2 months ago

ADHD Brains Drift into Sleep-Like Bursts While Awake, Study Finds

Researchers found that adults with ADHD show more frequent sleep-like slow waves during wakefulness while performing attention-demanding tasks, and these bursts are linked to more errors, slower reaction times, and lapses in attention. The study compared 32 adults with ADHD off medication to 31 neurotypical controls. The findings suggest a brain mechanism behind ADHD-related attention difficulties, and future work may test whether sleep-based stimulation to boost slow waves could reduce daytime sleep-like activity and improve focus.

"Israeli Study Identifies Brain Area Controlling Attention and Wakefulness"
science1 year ago

"Israeli Study Identifies Brain Area Controlling Attention and Wakefulness"

An Israeli study has identified the claustrum, a highly connected brain area, as a key regulator of wakefulness and attention. Researchers found that low claustrum activity in mice correlated with increased wakefulness and impulsive behavior, while high activity led to deeper sleep and better-regulated actions. These findings could aid in developing treatments for neurological and psychiatric disorders like ADHD.

"Scientists Unveil Revolutionary Drug That Outperforms Espresso in Combating Daytime Sleepiness"
health2 years ago

"Scientists Unveil Revolutionary Drug That Outperforms Espresso in Combating Daytime Sleepiness"

Scientists have discovered that three anti-fatigue drugs, including solriamfetol (brand name SUNOSI), are more effective than a placebo at reducing daytime sleepiness in people with obstructive sleep apnea. The drugs were found to improve wakefulness, with solriamfetol having the largest impact. However, potential side effects, such as increased blood pressure, should be considered. The study highlights the potential of these drugs as alternatives to caffeine for combating daytime sleepiness.