Elissa Halpin | 2026 I.S. Symposium
狈补尘别:听Elissa Halpin
罢颈迟濒别:听Cognitive and Neural Markers of Executive Control and Vigilance in OSA-Symptomatic Young Adults
惭补箩辞谤:听Neuroscience
Advisor: Grit Herzmann
Obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) is a common sleep disorder characterized by repeated interruptions in breathing during sleep, which can negatively impact brain function and daily performance. While cognitive impairments are well documented in clinically diagnosed OSA, less is known about OSA in a college-aged sample. The present study examined whether OSA-related symptoms are associated with changes in attention and cognitive control, even in the absence of noticeable performance differences. Participants were divided into OSA-symptomatic and non-symptomatic groups based on self-reported sleep-related symptoms. They completed two cognitive tasks: a Stroop task, which measures the ability to ignore distracting information, and a Psychomotor Vigilance Task (PVT), which assesses sustained attention. In addition to measuring reaction time and accuracy, brain activity was recorded using electroencephalography (EEG) to examine event-related potentials (ERPs), focusing on the N450 component linked to conflict monitoring. Behavioral results showed no significant differences between groups in task performance. However, neural findings revealed that the OSA-symptomatic group exhibited more negative N450 amplitudes, suggesting differences in how the brain processes cognitive conflict. This pattern indicates that individuals with OSA symptoms may recruit additional neural resources to maintain normal performance levels. Overall, these findings suggest that subtle brain changes related to sleep disruption may occur even before measurable behavioral impairments emerge. This highlights the importance of using sensitive neural measures to detect early cognitive effects of sleep-related conditions.
Posted in Symposium 2026 on May 1, 2026.
