Brain rendering with neural connections

Receive personalised feedback on your aerobic fitness and help contribute to a better understanding of brain health and safety

3 min read

Research participation Research participation

Receive personalised feedback on your aerobic fitness and help contribute to a better understanding of brain health and safety in demanding environments

This study investigates how your brain and memory respond to a night without sleep and a short session of moderate exercise, using non-invasive brain monitoring (EEG) and computer-based tasks to better understand how we stay mentally sharp under pressure.

Study Description

This study explores how the combination of sleep deprivation and exercise affects brain function and memory, aiming to uncover ways to maintain mental performance under challenging conditions. The findings could help improve safety and cognitive functioning in high-pressure roles like healthcare, emergency response, and transport, where fatigue is common. By taking part, you’ll not only contribute to important scientific research but also gain personal insights into your own aerobic fitness, and how your brain and body respond to changes in sleep and exercise.

Why volunteer?

  • You’ll receive personalised feedback on your aerobic fitness
  • Help contribute to a better understanding of brain health and safety in demanding environments
  • Enter a prize draw for a £100 Amazon voucher after completing all sessions

What will participants be doing?

If you take part, you’ll be asked to attend the lab on four separate occasions:

Visit 1: Familiarisation with the cognitive task and a maximal effort fitness test (~3 hrs)

Visit 2 & 3: EEG recordings, cognitive tasks, and a 30-minute cycling session. One session will follow a normal night’s sleep, and the other after an overnight sleep deprivation at home (~4 hrs each)

Visit 4: A short interview (~30 mins), either in person or via Zoom, to discuss your experience in the study

You’ll also:

  • Wear an activity monitor for 5 days before each session
  • Complete questionnaires on sleep, activity, and mood

Location

King Henry Building, KH2.03 (Psychophysiology Lab).

Apply

I you’d like to take part or learn more, please email: juan.badariotti@port.ac.uk.

You can also request more information .

Who can take part?

You can take part if you:

  • Healthy and physically active

  • Right-handed

  • Aged 18 or older

  • Neurotypical, with no diagnosed sleep or cognitive disorders

  • Not using psychoactive medication

Unfortunately, we are unable to include individuals who:

  • Left-handed
  • Diagnosed with ADHD or other neurological/learning differences
  • Have poor sleep quality or health concerns based on screening

Closing date for applications

15 August 2025

Ethics code: SHFEC-2024-065A