Advances in Circadian Rhythms, Sleep, and Cognitive Function: Translational and Technological Perspectives

A special issue of Brain Sciences (ISSN 2076-3425). This special issue belongs to the section "Sleep and Circadian Neuroscience".

Deadline for manuscript submissions: 15 December 2026 | Viewed by 1641

Special Issue Editor


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Guest Editor
1. Sleep Unit, Araba University Hospital (Santiago), Olagibel Kalea 29, 01004 Vitoria-Gasteiz, Spain
2. Centre for Integrated Research and Understanding of Sleep (CIRUS), Woolcock Institute of Medical Research, 2 Innovation Rd, Macquarie Park, NSW 2113, Australia
Interests: circadian rhythms; sleep; cognitive function; light therapy; melatonin; dementia; aging; mental health disorders
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Special Issue Information

Dear Colleagues,

Sleep and circadian rhythms play a fundamental role in cognitive function across an individual’s lifespan. Disruptions in these systems can impair attention, memory, executive function, and learning. This may have detrimental effects on both brain health and daily functioning. Such disturbances are prevalent among adolescents, shift workers, older adults, individuals in the general population, and those with neuropsychiatric, neurodegenerative, or neurodevelopmental conditions. Identifying and addressing sleep and circadian dysfunction as modifiable contributors to cognitive decline is essential in improving quality of life and preventing long-term cognitive and functional decline.

For this Special Issue, we welcome original research, reviews, and commentaries exploring the interplay among circadian rhythms, sleep, and cognition. We are particularly interested in translational and technological research, including wearables, digital interventions, or telemedicine, as well as behavioral and contextual strategies aimed at improving sleep and/or circadian regulation. Behavioral strategies focus on modifying individual habits and routines, such as sleep hygiene or cognitive therapies, and contextual strategies, involving changing environmental or social factors, such as lighting, noise, or daytime schedules and routines, to support healthier sleep and circadian rhythms. We welcome submissions that aim to better assess, understand, or improve cognitive function by targeting sleep or circadian regulation in at-risk or general populations.

Dr. Maria Comas Soberats
Guest Editor

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Keywords

  • sleep
  • circadian rhythms
  • cognitive function
  • translational research
  • telemedicine
  • wearable technology
  • light therapy
  • cognitive behavioral therapy
  • sleep interventions
  • neurodevelopmental disorders
  • neurodegenerative disorders
  • elderly
  • adolescence
  • shift work
  • non-clinical populations
  • digital health
  • chronobiology
  • sleep health
  • sleep disorders
  • circadian disruption
  • at-risk populations

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Published Papers (1 paper)

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Research

18 pages, 1062 KB  
Article
Sleep Duration and Physical Activity as Predictors of Executive Function in Adolescents: A Longitudinal Study
by Rosa Ayuso-Moreno, Ana Rubio-Morales, Rubén Llanos-Muñoz, Tomás García-Calvo and Inmaculada González-Ponce
Brain Sci. 2026, 16(3), 302; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci16030302 - 10 Mar 2026
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Abstract
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical period for executive function (EF) maturation. While sleep and physical activity (PA) are key lifestyle factors, their longitudinal impact on EF in ecologically valid settings is insufficiently characterised. This study examined the associations between objectively measured sleep duration, [...] Read more.
Background/Objectives: Adolescence is a critical period for executive function (EF) maturation. While sleep and physical activity (PA) are key lifestyle factors, their longitudinal impact on EF in ecologically valid settings is insufficiently characterised. This study examined the associations between objectively measured sleep duration, daily steps, and EF performance across one academic year (~9 months). Methods: A longitudinal study was conducted with 168 Spanish adolescents (13–16 years). Sleep duration and daily steps were monitored using Fitbit Charge 6 wearables for 7-day periods at baseline (M1; September 2024) and follow-up (M2; June 2025). EFs were assessed using three validated tasks: Stroop (inhibitory control), Psychomotor Vigilance Task-Brief (PVT-B; sustained attention), and Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT; working memory). Linear Mixed Models (LMM) were employed to analyse the effects of the fixed factors (i.e., Group and Time), and their interactions. Results: PA, but not sleep duration, significantly predicted executive performance. The High_PA group demonstrated faster reaction times in inhibitory control (p = 0.007) and significantly fewer attentional lapses in sustained attention (p = 0.014). In contrast, sleep duration showed no significant main effects on EF domains (p > 0.05). Regression analyses confirmed that higher daily steps predicted faster reaction times in inhibitory control in the total sample (r = −0.173, p = 0.002), although an unexpected positive association was observed in the Low_PA group for inhibitory control, warranting cautious interpretation. Conclusions: These findings suggest that habitual PA is associated with better EF performance in adolescents, whereas sleep duration alone (without considering timing or variability) showed no significant associations with cognitive outcomes. Sensitivity analyses using clinically informed thresholds and continuous standardised predictors confirmed the robustness of these findings. Full article
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