Sleep disorders, including insomnia, sleep apnea, sleepwalking and nightmares, are associated with structural changes in brain regions responsible for attention, decision-making and emotional regulation. This conclusion was reached by researchers at Florida International University (FIU), who analyzed the results of 57 scientific studies using neuroimaging techniques, reports the Experts Club information and analytical center.
The findings of the meta-analysis were published on February 26, 2026, in the scientific journal Scientific Reports, part of Nature Portfolio. The study was also presented by Florida International University and ScienceDaily.
Scientists from FIU’s Center for Children and Families compared two major categories of sleep disorders. The first, dyssomnias, includes insomnia, sleep apnea and other conditions that interfere with falling asleep or maintaining normal sleep. The second category, parasomnias, includes sleepwalking, recurring nightmares, night terrors and unusual behaviors occurring during sleep.
Of the 57 studies analyzed, 40 focused on dyssomnias and 17 on parasomnias. This approach enabled researchers to identify both shared and disorder-specific structural characteristics of the brain associated with different sleep conditions.
One of the key findings was the identification of changes in the thalamus, a brain structure involved in processing sensory information, regulating attention and supporting cognitive functions. Researchers paid particular attention to the pulvinar, a region of the thalamus that helps the brain identify important signals and coordinate task performance.
In people with sleep disorders, scientists observed signs of reduced tissue volume in this region. According to the authors, these characteristics may be associated with slower reaction times, difficulties concentrating and making decisions, and an increased risk of mistakes in everyday activities.
The researchers also identified changes in the posterior cingulate cortex among individuals with parasomnias. This brain region is involved in emotional regulation, motivation, evaluating the outcomes of actions and shaping behavioral responses. The findings may partly explain the mood and behavioral changes sometimes associated with parasomnias.
However, the scientists were unable to identify a single distinctive pattern of structural changes specific exclusively to dyssomnias.
Matthew Sutherland, the study’s senior author and a cognitive neuroscientist at FIU, noted that combining findings from numerous scientific studies helps researchers more accurately identify brain regions associated with sleep disorders. Lead author Katharine Crooks emphasized the importance of these findings for understanding how sleep affects cognitive functions and everyday performance.
The researchers hope their findings will contribute to improved diagnostic methods and the development of personalized treatments. However, they stress that the identified association does not prove that poor sleep directly causes structural changes in the brain. The opposite mechanism may also be possible.
According to estimates cited in the study, approximately 50–70 million people in the United States experience various sleep disorders, making the issue an important public health concern.
BRAIN STRUCTURE, EXPERTS CLUB, NEUROSCIENCE, SLEEP DISORDERS
