Sleep spindle activity and psychotic experiences: Examining the mediating roles of attentional performance and perceptual distortions in a daytime nap study

• DOI: 10.1016/j.sleep.2024.02.023
• Publication Date: 2024-02-12T17:29:29Z
• Authors: Mathias K. Kammerer; Antonia Bott; Felix Strakeljahn; Tania M. Lincoln
• Keywords: Nap

Decreased sleep spindle activity in individuals with psychotic disorders is well studied, but its contribution to symptom formation not understood. This study explored potential underlying mechanisms explaining the association between decreased and symptoms. To this end, we analysed links experiences probed for mediating roles of attentional performance perceptual distortions a community sample young adults (N = 70; 26.33 ± 4.84 years). Polysomnography was recorded during 90-minute daytime nap duration, amplitude, density from slow (10–13 Hz) fast (13–16 spindles were extracted. Attentional assessed via test battery an antisaccadic eye movement task. Psychotic (i.e., paranoid thoughts; hallucinatory experiences) anomalous perceptions; sensory gating deficits) self-report questionnaires. We conducted sequential mediation analyses as predictor, dependent variable, mediators. found reduced right central amplitude be associated thoughts. Increased error rate perceptions experiences. did find significant effects. The findings support notion that involved thoughts indicative precursors However, further research needed corroborate here proposed hypothesis.