Disordered descent into sleep: microstructural divergence across arousal-linked conditions

npj Biological Timing and Sleep 2026 Open access

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Authors: Nazanin Biabani, Adam Birdseye, Valentina Gnoni, Riva Tauman, Katarina Ilic, Panagis Drakatos, Alexander David Nesbitt, Monica Puligheddu, David O’Regan, Robert Leech, Peter J. Goadsby, Ivana Rosenzweig
DOI: 10.1038/s44323-026-00070-8
Cited by: 1
References: 63

Abstract

Abstract Sleep onset is an unstable transition whose microstructure may distinguish clinical phenotypes. Using Hori 4-second microstaging in patients with narcolepsy type 1, idiopathic REM sleep behaviour disorder, NREM parasomnia and an exploratory fibromyalgia cohort, each with matched controls ( n = 48 pairs), we quantified timing, entropy, hemispheric laterality and sequence ordering. Narcolepsy showed compressed, irregular onset, fibromyalgia prolonged divergent onset, and the remaining groups near-normative trajectories, suggesting disorder-specific signatures of arousal instability.

Fields of Study & Subjects

Sleep and Wakefulness Research Restless Legs Syndrome Research Sleep and related disorders

Publication details

Journal / source
npj Biological Timing and Sleep
Publisher
Springer Science and Business Media LLC
Volume
3
Issue
1
Publication date
26 February 2026
Language
EN