Grant: Research Tools and Instruments

Sleep plays a central role in learning and memory consolidation across cognitive domains, and has a significant influence on various across aspects of cognition. EEG is an essential tool for understanding how sleep physiology relates to memory consolidation and cognition more broadly. We are requesting equipment to outfit two sleep-EEG laboratories to support the growing research programs of multiple researchers engaged in sleep-related research at Western's Brain and Mind Institute. This equipment will allow us to record brain activity, as well as eye movements and muscle activity, of sleeping participants in the lab. These EEG sleep studies will provide insight into how sleep and sleep-related physiological mechanisms (such as slow-wave oscillations and spindles) contribute to various aspects of cognition, ranging from language to memory consolidation to executive function. This equipment will also allow for ongoing high-quality training of HQP engaged in our research programs, which includes training in EEG and polysomnography data acquisition, online and offline sleep staging, and advanced EEG analyses. This equipment will facilitate the significant momentum for sleep-research at the Brain and Mind Institute, support ongoing and future collaborations in this area, and ultimately advance our understanding of links between sleep and cognition.