Sleep and Chronobiology Laboratory

Administrative Research Center (ARC), Room A29

3100 Marine Street
Boulder, CO 80309-0554
phone: 303-735-1923
fax: 303-735-2864

Research Interests

  • The influence of sleep and circadian rhythms on human physiology (general physiology, neuroendocrine, metabolic function) and behavior (sleepiness, memory, learning, mood, cognitive and balance performance) with application to public health and safety.

Personnel

  • Director: Kenneth P. Wright Jr., Ph.D.

  • Post-doctoral Fellow: Mark R. Smith, Ph.D.

  • Graduate Students: Tina M. Burke, M.S., Zakeih Chaker, B.A., Evan Chinoy, B.A., Rachel R. Markwald, M.S., Paulo Serapio, B.A.

  • Undergraduate Students: Benjamin Ball, Brian Birks, Lindsay Boothby, Tristan Dear, Bryan Mark, Elmear McGuire, Amuda Mishra, Brian Perry, Jamie Pfahl, Kelcie Rasco, Benjamin Smith, Haley Stewart, Sherry Wang, Fan Yang.

  • High School Internship: Anna O'Loughlin.

  • Professional Research Assistants: Brandon Griffin, B.A., Bela Mohapatra, B.A., Gayle K. Wright, MSW, LCSW.

  • Collaborators: Richard R. Bootzin, Ph.D., University of Arizona; Charles A. Czeisler, Ph.D., M.D., Harvard Medical School, Brigham and Women's Hospital; Naomi P. Friedman, Ph.D., University of Colorado Institute for Behavioral Genetics; Robert H. Eckel, M.D., University of Colorado Denver School of Medicinel; Edward Melanson, Ph.D., University of Colorado Denver School of Medicine.
(L to R): Back row - Jamie Pfahl, Dr. Kenneth Wright, Bryan Mark, Benjamin Ball, Dr. Mark Smith, Brandon Griffin, Tina Burke.
Middle row - Bela Mohapatra, Rachel Markwald, Brian Perry, Gayle Wright, Lindsay Boothby, Haley Stewart, Eimear McGuire, Amuda Mishra.
Front row - Evan Chinoy, Paulo Serapio, Anna O'Loughlin, Tristan Dear, Sherry Wang, Fan Yang.
Missing from picture - Brian Birks, Zakeih Chaker, Kelcie Rasco, Benjamin Smith.

Current Research Projects

  • Influence of sleep loss, sleep inertia and circadian disruption on cognitive function.

  • Melatonin analogs, sleep and insomnia.

  • Countermeasures to improve sleep and wakefulness.

  • The metabolic cost of sleep loss.

  • Aging, hypnotics, and falls.

  • Genetic and environmental contributions to sleep.

  • Resetting the human circadian clock with photic and non-photic stimuli.

Persons interested in volunteering to participate in one of these studies should visit the sleep study participant page.

Opportunities for Undergraduate Students

  • The requirements for undergraduate students who want a research experience in our Laboratory are:
    • A strong desire to obtain research experiences prior to graduate school, medical school, or advanced study in a health-related field.
    • Minimum commitment: One year
    • Minimum hours/week when testing subjects: 10 hours (includes journal club)
    • Minimum experience: No prior experience required
    • Must be willing to work with a team
    • Must be able to work various hours during the day, at night, and on weekends.

  • UROP, independent study, honors thesis, and concurrent BA-MS opportunities are available.

  • For more information, contact Prof. Ken Wright (kenneth.wright@colorado.edu).

Recent Publications

  • Åkerstedt T, Wright KP Jr. Sleep Loss and Fatigue in Shift Work and Shift Work Disorder. Sleep Medicine Clinics 4: 257-271, 2009.

  • Frey DJ, Fleshner M, Wright KP Jr. The effects of 40 hours of total sleep deprivation on inflammatory markers in healthy young adults. Brain Behavior and Immunity 21: 1050-1057, 2007.

  • Friedman NP, Corley RP, Hewitt JK, Wright KP Jr. Individual Differences in Childhood Sleep Problems Predict Later Cognitive Executive Control. Sleep 32:323-33, 2009.

  • Gerstner JR, Lyons LC, Wright KP Jr, Loh DH, Rawashdeh O, Eckel-Mahan KKL, Roman GW. Cycling behavior and memory formation. Journal of Neuroscience 29: 12824-12830, 2009.

  • Gronfier C, Wright KP Jr, Krounauer RE, Czeisler CA. Entrainment of the human circadian pacemaker to longer-than-24-h days. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences USA 104: 9081-9086, 2007.

  • Nguyen J, Wright KP Jr. Influence of weeks of circadian misalignment on leptin levels. Nature and Science of Sleep 2: 9-18, 2010.

  • Sack RL, Auckley D., Auger R., Carskadon MA, Wright KP Jr, Vitiello MV, Zhdanova IV. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: Part I, Basic Principles, Shift Work and Jet Lag Disorders An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Review. Sleep 30: 1460-1483, 2007.

  • Sack RL, Auckley D., Auger R., Carskadon MA, Wright KP Jr, Vitiello MV, Zhdanova IV. Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders: Part II, Advanced Sleep Phase Disorder, Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder, Free-Running Disorder, and Irregular Sleep-Wake Rhythm An American Academy of Sleep Medicine Review. Sleep 30: 1484-1501, 2007.

  • Scheer FA, Wright KP Jr, Kronauer RE, Czeisler CA. Plasticity of the intrinsic period of the human circadian timing system. Public Library of Science ONE 2:e721, 2007.

  • Schwartz JRL, Roth T, Hirshkowitz M, Wright KP Jr. Recognition and management of excessive sleepiness in the primary care setting. Primary Care Companion of the Journal of Clinical Psychiatry 11: 197-204, 2009.

  • St-Hilaire MA, Klerman EB, Khalsa SB, Wright KP Jr, Czeisler CA, Kronauer RE. Addition of a non-photic component to a light-based mathematical model of the human circadian pacemaker. Journal of Theoretical Biology 247: 583-599, 2007.

  • Wright KP Jr. Seasonal changes in night-length and impact on human sleep. In Larry R. Squire, Editor-in-Chief, Encyclopedia of Neuroscience, Academic Press, Oxford, 2008.

  • Wright KP Jr, Burke T, Lee-Chiong T. A Glossary of Circadian Rhythm Terminology for the Researcher and Clinician. Sleep Medicine Clinics 4: 301-304, 2009.

  • Wright KP Jr, Drake CL, Lockley SW. Diagnostic Tools for Circadian Rhythm Sleep Disorders. Handbook of Sleep Disorders. Editor. C. Kushida Taylor & Francis Group. 147-173, 2008.

  • Wright KP Jr, Frey DJ. Age Related Changes in Sleep and Circadian Physiology: From Brain Mechanisms to Sleep Behavior. In A.Y. Avidan and C. Alessi: Geriatric Sleep Medicine. Informa HealthCare 1-18, 2009.

  • Wright KP Jr, Gooley JJ. Chronobiology mechanisms and circadian sleep disorders. Basics of Sleep Guide. Sleep Research Society 223-234, 2009.

Funding

  • 1999-2009, NASA 98 HEDSO2E394, "Sleep-Wake Actigraphy and Light Exposure During Space Flight".

  • 2006-2010, NIH R01 HL081761, "Circadian Integration of Photic and Non-Photic Stimuli".

  • 2009-2010, National Space Biomedical Research Institute (NSBRI) HFP00002, "Operational Evaluation of a Photic Countermeasure to Improve Alertness, Performance, and Mood during Nightshift Work on a 105-day Simulated Human Exploration Mission".

  • 2009-2011, NIH R01 HL085705, "Health and Safety Consequences of Sleep Loss".
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