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The Role of the LC-NA System in Experimental Sleep Fragmentation

NCT07167316 · Status: NOT_YET_RECRUITING · Phase: PHASE1 · Type: INTERVENTIONAL · Enrollment: 42

Last updated 2025-12-22

No results posted yet for this study

Summary

Sleep-wake regulation affects every person's life, yet the molecular mechanisms underlying these processes remain poorly understood. In particular, the microstructure of sleep has not been sufficiently studied to explain how sleep produces a feeling of restoration the following morning. Stress also plays a significant role in sleep regulation. This study aims to investigate the role of norepinephrine in these processes.

Conditions

  • The Role of the LC-NA System in Sleep Regulation

Interventions

DRUG

DMTN

Dexmedetomidine is a highly selective alpha-2 adrenergic receptor agonist that reduces the release of norepinephrine by inhibiting activity in the locus coeruleus, a key brain region involved in arousal and stress responses. In this study, dexmedetomidine will be administered as an oro-dispersible tablet applied buccally, allowing for rapid absorption through the oral mucosa.

OTHER

Auditory Stimulation

Auditory tones will be presented throughout the night at individually calibrated intensities, adjusted to each participant's hearing threshold, in order to induce controlled sleep fragmentation without full awakenings.

DRUG

Placbo

Oro-dispersible placebo tablet identical in appearance and packaging to the active Dexmedetomidine tablet.

Sponsors & Collaborators

  • Wellcome Trust

    collaborator OTHER

  • Hans-Peter Landolt

    lead OTHER

Study Design

Allocation
RANDOMIZED
Purpose
BASIC_SCIENCE
Masking
DOUBLE
Model
CROSSOVER

Eligibility

Min Age
18 Years
Max Age
35 Years
Sex
ALL
Healthy Volunteers
Yes

Timeline & Regulatory

Start
2026-01-05
Primary Completion
2026-10-01
Completion
2026-10-01

Countries

  • Switzerland

Study Locations

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Read the full study record

This page highlights key information. For complete eligibility criteria, study locations, investigator contacts, and the full protocol, visit the original record on ClinicalTrials.gov.

View NCT07167316 on ClinicalTrials.gov