Sleep spindle activity and cognitive performance in healthy children.
OBJECTIVE
To investigate the association between indices of sleep spindle activity and cognitive performance in a sample of healthy children.


METHODS
Correlational. Intelligence (Stanford-Binet) and neurocognitive functioning (NEPSY) were assessed, with sleep variables being measured during overnight polysomnography.


METHODS
Hospital sleep laboratory.


METHODS
Twenty-seven healthy children (mean age 8.19 y; 14 female, 13 male).


METHODS
N/A.


RESULTS
Participants underwent a single night of overnight polysomnography after completing measures of intelligence and neurocognitive functioning. Sleep spindles were visually identified by an experienced sleep scoring technician and separated algorithmically into fast (> 13 Hz) and slow spindle (< 13 Hz) categories. The number of fast spindles was significantly correlated with narrative memory (r(s) = 0.38) and sensorimotor functioning (-0.43). Mean central frequency of spindles was also significantly correlated with sensorimotor functioning (-0.41), planning ability (-0.41), and working memory (-0.54).


CONCLUSIONS
Basal sleep spindle activity is associated with different aspects of cognitive performance in children. To the extent that these associations in a pediatric population are different from what is known in adult sleep may play an important role in development.
Department of Respiratory and Sleep Medicine, Women's and Children's Hospital, North Adelaide, Australia.
Alex
A
Chatburn
Scott
S
Coussens
Kurt
K
Lushington
Declan
D
Kennedy
Mathias
M
Baumert
Mark
M
Kohler
D002648:Child; D002675:Child, Preschool; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D004569:Electroencephalography; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D017286:Polysomnography; D012890:Sleep / Q000502:physiology*; D012894:Sleep Stages / Q000502:physiology; D013195:Stanford-Binet Test