The Role of Sleep in Children's Intelligence

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The human functions that are the most affected by sleep are also the key domains of intelligence including learning, memory, attention and executive functions. While it is evident that sleep is associated with intelligence in children, the underlying mechanisms remain unknown. Our long-term goal is to understand the role of sleep in the cognitive functioning of children and adolescents. The objective of the proposed research program, which is a subsection of our long-term goal, is to examine the role of Non Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep oscillations - Slow Wave Sleep and sleep spindles-  in intelligence across development.  Our rationale for this study is that once we understand how Non Rapid Eye Movement (NREM) sleep oscillations and intelligence interact, we will be able to delineate the neural basis for intelligence and map how individual variations and developmental changes in sleep are related to those in cognitive development.