Moreno Lab Projects

Melatonin Sensor Study

This study is a joint venture with Dr. Limei Tian at Texas A&M University in which we are piloting the development of a novel wearable sensor to assess melatonin and other circadian biomarkers in sweat. This project is supported by the Precise Advanced Technologies and Health Systems for Under-resourced Populations (PATHS-UP) Engineering Research Center.

Energy and Screens Study

This study will examine how sleep and circadian rhythms affect energy use during screen and and non-screen sedentary activites among children ages 3-5 years. This study is supported by Supported by United States Department of Agriculture, Agricultural Research Service CRIS 58-3092-5-008. Learn More.

Goodnight Screen Media Study

During the pandemic, children’s screen media use, and in particular tablet use, increased dramatically. Greater screen use is associated with less healthy sleep habits including shorter sleep duration, later sleep timing, difficulty falling asleep, and poorer sleep quality. One of the mechanisms through which screen use affects sleep is through the contribution of evening light exposure. Exposure to light at night sends an alerting signal to the circadian system, signaling that it is daytime, suppressing the release of melatonin, a hormone that signals to the body that it is time to sleep. To mitigate risks associated with TDM use and sleep problems, parents need practical guidance about the potential impact of TDM use on their children’s circadian rhythms and sleep, especially in the evening when children are most sensitive to the light emitted from screen devices. This study will systematically test the effect of the timing of tablet use before bed on the sleep, circadian phase, and executive functioning of 4-year-olds using a 3-group randomized controlled trial in which children are assigned to receive one of 2 experimental conditions (Group A:1 hour of tablet use in the hour before bed; Group B:1 hour of tablet use 2 hours before bed) or a control condition (no evening TDM use). Learn more on ClinicalTrials.gov or bcm.edu.

SCREENS - Sleep, Circadian Rhythms, and Electronics in the EveNing Study

An adequate amount of sleep (9 to 12 hours of sleep per night) during childhood is vital for the growth, health, and cognitive development of a child. However, over 1/3 of children do not get enough sleep. Tt use of electronic devices before bedtime may disrupt sleep patterns and contribute to shorter, poorer quality sleep.

One way that using screen devices before bed may impair sleep is through exposure to blue light. Screen devices emit a higher proportion of blue light which may send an alerting signal to brain, making it harder to fall asleep. Alternatively, exposure to screen devices may expose children to exciting content that may make it harder for them to fall asleep. This study aims to investigate whether a tablet’s media content and screen brightness levels affect sleep among 8- to 11-year-old children.

This is a 4-group randomized controlled trial. Participants will be assigned to one experimental group (Group A: tablet use with bright light and exciting content an hour before bed, Group B: tablet use with bright light and calming content an hour before bed, Group C: tablet use with dim light and exciting content an hour before bed, Group D: tablet use with dim light and calming content an hour before bed). Learn more on ClinicalTrials.gov  or bcm.edu.