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Distinct Convergent Brain Alterations in Sleep Disorders and Sleep Deprivation: A Meta-Analysis

Reimann GM, Hoseini A, Koçak M, Beste M, Küppers V, Rosenzweig I, Elmenhorst D, Pires GN et al.

JAMA psychiatry, 2025

3,380 participants · 32 citations

Abstract

Importance: Sleep disorders have different etiologies yet share some nocturnal and daytime symptoms, suggesting common neurobiological substrates; healthy individuals undergoing experimental sleep deprivation also report analogous daytime symptoms. However, brain similarities and differences between long-term sleep disorders and short-term sleep deprivation are unclear.

Objective: To investigate the shared and specific neural correlates across sleep disorders and sleep deprivation.

Data sources: PubMed, Web of Science, Embase, Scopus, and BrainMap were searched up to January 2024 to identify relevant structural and functional neuroimaging articles.

Study selection: Whole-brain neuroimaging articles reporting voxel-based group differences between patients with different sleep disorders and healthy control participants or between total or partial sleep-deprived and well-rested individuals were included.

Data extraction and synthesis: Significant coordinates of group comparisons, their contrast direction (eg, patients < controls), and imaging modality were extracted. For each article, 2 raters independently evaluated eligibility and extracted data. Subsequently, several meta-analyses were performed with the revised activation likelihood estimation algorithm using P < .05 cluster-level familywise error correction.

Main outcomes and measures: Transdiagnostic regional brain alterations were identified across sleep disorders and among articles reporting sleep deprivation. Their…

How strong is the evidence?

Evidence Hub reads this as a meta-analysis, done in people. Its evidence level is 1 of 5 (Highest · pooled evidence). Pooled evidence from several studies sits at the top of the evidence pyramid. Reported size: 3,380 participants or records.

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