Lack of funding

Cognitive dysfunction, either alone or as an element in the syndrome of delirium, is a common occurrence with an incidence as high as 75% in intensive care unit (ICU) patients and can independently result in serious consequences including higher mortality rate. Delirium develops through a complex interaction between the patient's baseline vulnerability (risk factors) and precipitating factors such as disruption of sleep that may occur during hospitalization. While sedative-hypnotic agents that are used to facilitate hypnosis and the management of mechanically ventilated patients converge on the neural substrate that mediate endogenous sleep, they do so at different juncture points depending on its molecular mechanism of hypnotic action. Hypnotic agents that modulate the GABAA receptor converge at the level of the hypothalamus while α2 adrenergic agonists converge on sleep pathways within the brainstem. This translational project seeks to determine whether sedation mediated by activation of α2 adrenoceptors (dexmedetomidine) is more like natural sleep than that provided by a sedative agent that modulates the GABAA receptor (propofol). The investigators will examine volunteers who will be monitored continuously by electroencephalography (EEG) and whole-brain functional connectivity by magnetoencephalography (MEG) during each of three sleep stages, namely, that induced by dexmedetomidine, propofol, or saline (natural sleep, control). The two drug-induced sleep regimens will be compared to natural sleep using EEG and brain connectivity by MEG

In this proposal the investigators seek to determine whether sedation mediated by activation of α2 adrenoceptors (dexmedetomidine) is more like natural sleep than that provided by a sedative agent that modulates the GABAA receptor (propofol), two common widely used sedative agents in ICU. Ten volunteers will be enrolled and each subject will be studied on three experimental sessions. Subjects will be randomized to receive a continuous infusion of either saline, dexmedetomidine (DEX), or propofol in each of the three sessions. By relying on clinical rating scales, the investigators ensure that the doses of DEX and propofol administered induce equisedative states before progressing to magnetoencephalography and electroencephalography data collection.

If the restorative and reparative benefits of sleep mitigate the development of cognitive dysfunction, this will result in shorter ICU length of stay for critically ill patients with a concomitant reduction in healthcare costs. Furthermore, it is possible that the restorative properties of sleep for the central nervous system can extend to the immune system with less infection and/or greater likelihood of survival from sepsis.

In this manner, our project will translate experimental data towards clinical practice and the adoption of rational and clinically supported interventions in the ICU that are likely to improve not only patient reported outcome measures, but also the chance of surviving critical illness.

Each experimental session will take a maximum of 7 hours (5 hours maximum for control sessions).

Sessions have to be separated by at least one week. Subjects will be enrolled for a minimum of 3 weeks (1 session on each week) and no more than 3 months.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Volunteer agreement and written informed consent
• Healthy female or male between 18 and 45 years of age
• Body Mass Index < 30 kg/m2
• Non-pregnant and non-lactating
• Normal airway anatomy (Mallampati class I)

Exclusion Criteria:

• Subject has a history of recent alcohol or drug abuse
• Subject is unable to communicate in English
• Subject is unwilling to meet fast guidelines (fast light meal or non-human milk for at least 8 hours, and clear liquids at least for 2 hours prior to induction of sedation on the day of the study)
• Subject has taken caffeine containing beverages less than 8 hours before study begins
• Subject is not able to avoid sleep for a minimum of 16 hours prior to testing
• Subject has a known allergy to either of the sedative-hypnotic drugs to be used in the study
• Subject has abnormal airway anatomy, including loose teeth
• Subject has any family history of complications from anesthesia
• Subject has history of sleep apnea
• Subject has any reported illness, upper respiratory tract infection, abnormal vital signs, or concerning findings on the physical exam for the past 6 weeks
• Subject has a positive urine pregnancy test
• Subject is unable to sleep supine.