Understanding the relationship between sleep, motor learning, and motor development in early childhood

PROJECT SUMMARY Early childhood is a period of neuroplasticity and change across physiological, cognitive, and behavioral domains. Interactions among domains abound and cumulatively support future health outcomes. The present fellowship hones in on the relationship between sleep and motor development. Research with adults supports the impact of specific sleep features (e.g., spindles and slow oscillations) on motor memory consolidation. As such, the central hypothesis of the present work is that sleep oscillations support motor learning in early childhood and that maturational changes in these sleep features support motor development. Specifically, the research aims to identify sleep EEG markers that predict motor memory consolidation (Aim 1) and motor development (Aim 2). To address Aim 1, 4-year-old children (48-52 months) will participate in a within and between subjects design that will ensure rigorous investigation while controlling for individual differences. They will learn the mirror-tracing task at either 7AM or 7PM and performance will be tested 12- and 24-hrs later following an interval with sleep (7PM-7AM) and wake (7AM-7PM; within-subject, order counterbalanced). Overnight sleep bouts will be recorded with polysomnography (sleep EEG) and a unique behavioral coding schema, microgenetic coding, will be used to measure mirror-tracing performance in addition to traditional measures. To address Aim 2, I will use data from a longitudinal R01 of the sponsor in which 3-4-year-old children’s sleep is assessed every 6 months for 1 year. At each timepoint, they will complete a standardized motor assessment (Movement Assessment Battery for Children III) and overnight sleep will be recorded. Sleep physiology (sleep oscillation coupling and topography) are hypothesized to predict motor learning (Aim 1) and motor development (Aim 2). The aims of the proposal have public health significance in that they will identify potential windows of opportunity to intervene on health behaviors (i.e., good sleep habits), learning, and motoric ability at a critical developmental period of the lifespan. The findings can inform future intervention studies, particularly in collaboration with physical and occupational therapists, as well as early childhood education policies and considerations for pediatricians. Collectively, the proposed development plan incorporates activities for training in cognitive neuroscience, sleep, coding and machine learning, statistical analyses, and grant writing. Successful completion of this proposed training plan will result in several submissions of first-author manuscripts to peer-reviewed journals and will establish an essential research foundation to support a competitive early career funding proposal. The fellowship will provide protected time and unique cross-disciplinary training for successful completion of outlined goals.