Wired and Tired: A Sleep Science from Neurobiology to Daily Struggles
Project by Polygence alum Madina
Project's result
I have submitted my project to Research Archive of Rising Scholars. I will work on submitting it to other different scientific journals
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Summary
Sleep is a complex biological process regulated by neural systems, circadian rhythms, environmental cues and more. Poor sleep quality has become a global public health concern, affecting nearly one-third of adults worldwide. This paper provides an overview of sleep biology, the causes of poor sleep, and its consequences for mental and physiological health. It outlines the structure and regulation of healthy sleep, followed by biological, behavioral, environmental, and genetic disruptions that can worsen sleep quality. It then examines common clinical sleep disorders - such as obstructive sleep apnea, insomnia, narcolepsy, hypersomnolence disorder and REM sleep behavior disorder - and reviews current medications. This paper aims to provide an interdisciplinary overview of sleep biology, explore the complex causes of poor sleep, and examine how its disruption affects nearly every aspect of human functioning.
Sean
Polygence mentor
PhD Doctor of Philosophy
Subjects
Biology, Chemistry, Neuroscience
Expertise
Neurodevelopment, Neurodegeneration, sleep, sleep medications/pharmacology, Autism, Schizophrenia
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Madina
Student
Hi! I'm Madina and I'm a senior in high school. My research is about neuroscience of sleep. I like snowboarding, journaling, listening to music and pottery :)
Graduation Year
2026
Project review
“I didn’t expect the whole experience to be this stress-free. I also didn’t think my mentor would be so supportive and kind, so that definitely exceeded my expectations :) As for the difficulty level and the amount of help I received, it was pretty much exactly what I expected. I think that anyone who wants to try themselves in research should try Polygence”
About my mentor
“It was really nice that Sean always told me I was doing a good job even if I myself didn't think so, he was very supportive. He helped me understand what I needed to do and how to make my work better. He was always prepared for the sessions. Sean always asked me if I understood what he said and made it easy to ask questions and have discussions with him. Working with him was very nice!!”
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