The Sleep Disorders Research Page

The Research Division of the Sleep Disorders Center

We have a highly active and productive Research Division at the Sleep Disorders Center. The Research Division is presently investigating:

The relationship between brain and behavior as it pertains to the clinical issues of sleep disorders.

The separate and combined effect that snoring and sleep apnea have on autonomic and cardiovascular function.

In addition, the Research Division is committed to identifying successful treatment strategies for a variety of sleep-related disorders. To this end, we are endeavoring to study the following:

The relationship between brain and behavior and clinical sleep disorders:

(1) The effects of drugs of abuse (e.g., cocaine) on normal architecture and the effects of withdrawal from, or craving for, drugs of abuse on sleep architecture.

(2) Sleep-related disorders as contributory causes for, or as risk factors of, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome.

(3) The cause(s) of CNS hypersomnolence, and to design novel diagnostic tools to aid sleep disorder specialists in verifying CNS Hypersomnolence.

(4) The clinical efficaciousness of Sinequan (Doxepin) to treat chronic insomnia.

Future research aims include:

(1) Studying the effects other drugs of abuse (e.g. heroin, marijuana) have on normal sleep architecture, and to study the effects of recreational versus chronic use of marijuana on sleep.

(2) Studying the molecular genetic basis of narcoleps and other sleep disorders.

The effect of snoring and sleep apnea on cardiovascular and autonomic function:
Jason H. Mateika Ph.D. and Neil Kavey M.D.

We intend to explore:

(1) the mechanisms by which snoring directly effects autonomic and cardiovascular function.

(2) the separate and combined effect that snoring and sleep apnea have on cardiovascular function during sleep.

(3) if the treatment of snoring individuals with essential hypertension leads to the reversal of some of the
cardiovascular alterations that are normally associated with hypertension.

The results obtained from these investigations will allow us:

(1) to provide insight into the extent of autonomic and cardiovascular dysfunction that exists between snoring
individuals prior to the development of cardiovascular disease

(2) to provide insight into how nighttime alterations in autonomic and cardiovascular function eventually
lead to daytime hypertension.

(3) to determine if snoring and sleep apnea interact in an additive or multiplicative fashion to produce the
changes in cardiovascular and autonomic function that have been reported for individuals with obstructive sleep apnea.

(4) to provide the rationale for treating non-apneic normotensive and hypertensive snoring individuals.

If you would like to participate in this investigation you must meet one of the following criteria:

(1) A heavy snorer between the ages of 25-50 who does not stop breathing during sleep and is otherwise healthy
(i.e. normal blood pressure, not extremely overweight, normal sleep cycles).

(2) Non-snoring healthy individuals between the ages of 25-50.

(3) A heavy snorer between the ages of 25-50 who does not stop breathing during sleep, does not have trouble sleeping, is not extremely overweight but does suffer from essential hypertension.

If you are selected to participate in these studies, you will receive a remuneration fee
of between $75.00 - $100.00.

Additional information and inquiries about these studies can be directed to The Sleep Disorders Center Research Dept.