Brain scans reveal how insomnia therapy rewires the mind
NCT ID NCT04024787
First seen Jun 27, 2026 · Last updated Jun 27, 2026
Summary
This study looks at how chronic insomnia affects brain function during memory and emotional tasks, and whether cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT-I) can reverse those changes. About 120 adults (80 with insomnia and 40 healthy sleepers) will undergo brain scans before and after therapy. The goal is to understand the brain basis of insomnia and how treatment helps, not to cure the condition.
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Study facts
What this study's own registry entry says, in plain language.
- Phase
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Not a phased trial
Phase numbers describe drug development. The registry uses this when they do not apply, as it does for trials of devices, procedures or behaviour changes, and for observational studies.
- Participants
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About 120 people
The number the study aims to enrol. It can still change while the study runs.
- Started
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Jul 2019
- Expected to finish
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Dec 2026
An estimate. End dates often move.
- Lead sponsor
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Other sponsor
The registry's catch-all category, for sponsors it does not file as a company, a government agency, or a research network.
Who can take part
This study's own entry requirements. Only the study team can say for certain whether you qualify.
- Ages
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25 to 65 years
- Sex
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Anyone
- Healthy volunteers
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Accepted
You do not need to have the condition being studied to take part.
Show the full entry requirements Hide the full entry requirements
Copied word for word from the study's registry entry, so the wording is the study team's rather than ours.
Inclusion Criteria: 80 participants with chronic primary insomnia (40 per group) 40 good sleepers Exclusion Criteria: 1. Older than 65 y.o. or younger than 25 y.o. 2. Contraindication to the MRI scanning 3. Current neurological disorder 4. Past history of brain lesion 5. Major surgery (i.e., requiring general anesthesia) in the past 3 months 6. Untreated thyroid disorder 7. Chronic pain syndrome self-reported as interfering with sleep 8. Recent and severe infection in the past 3 months 9. Active cancer, or remitted cancer with cancer treatment within the last 2 years 10. Stroke 11. Myocardial infarct 12. Arterial bypass or angioplasty 13. Pacemaker 14. Heart failure causing limitation of ordinary physical activity 15. Renal insufficiency 16. Sleep apnea with an apnea-hypopnea index \> 5/h 17. Restless legs syndrome with symptoms 3 days or more per week 18. Periodic limb movements during sleep with index \> 15/h 19. REM-sleep behavior disorder 20. Narcolepsy and other central disorders of hypersomnolence 21. Sleepwalking more than once/month 22. Having worked on night shifts or rotating shifts for more than 2 weeks in the last 3 months or expecting to do so during the study period 23. Severe mental disorders: bipolar disorder (Type I), schizophrenia, anxiety disorders, major depressive disorder, current substance use disorder, current post-traumatic stress disorder 24. Current suicidality 25. Frequent alcohol consumption (\>10 glasses/week) or use of cannabis (more than once a week) or illicit drugs (more than once a month) 26. Smoking cigarettes more than 10 cigarettes/day 27. Pregnant or breastfeeding women 28. Current psychotherapy or past cognitive-behavioural therapy for insomnia 29. Current use of medication for depression or anxiety 30. Unable to stop hypnosedative medications for at least 2 weeks prior to the first assessment 31. For good sleepers: insomnia symptoms more than 3 times/ week.
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Conditions
The condition(s) this trial relates to.
As listed by the trial registrant
The condition terms exactly as the trial's registrant entered them.
Contacts and locations
Locations
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Perform Center, Concordia University
Montreal, Quebec, H4B 1R6, Canada
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Other studies related to the condition(s) this trial covers.
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