5th International Conference on Neuroscience and Mental Health

Sleep is far more than a period of rest; it is a highly active and essential neurobiological process that underpins virtually every aspect of brain health, mental wellbeing, immune function, and cognitive performance. Yet sleep remains one of the most underappreciated and undertreated dimensions of neurological and psychiatric medicine. This session is dedicated to advancing the science and clinical practice of sleep neuroscience, bringing together sleep researchers, neurologists, psychiatrists, and public health experts to explore the extraordinary importance of sleep across the full spectrum of neuroscience and mental health. From the molecular mechanisms of sleep-wake regulation to the clinical management of chronic sleep disorders, this session offers comprehensive, cutting-edge insights.

The bidirectional relationship between sleep and mental health is one of the most compelling areas in contemporary neuroscience, and one with profound clinical implications. Research has established that sleep disturbance is not merely a symptom of depression, anxiety, PTSD, and bipolar disorder, but an active contributor to their onset, severity, and recurrence. This session will present the latest evidence on how disrupted sleep architecture, insufficient REM sleep, and circadian rhythm dysregulation alter the neurochemistry and neural connectivity underlying psychiatric conditions. Participants will explore evidence-based sleep interventions, including CBT for Insomnia (CBT-I), chronotherapy, and light therapy, that are proving highly effective in improving both sleep and mental health outcomes.

The neuroscience of sleep's role in memory consolidation, emotional regulation, immune function, and neuroprotection will be further highlights of this session. Compelling research on how sleep supports the glymphatic clearance of neurotoxic proteins, including amyloid and tau, has transformed our understanding of the relationship between sleep and neurodegeneration, and this will be a major area of focus. Digital health technologies, including wearable sleep trackers, AI-powered sleep analysis, and smartphone-based CBT-I programmes, will also be featured, demonstrating how technology is making sleep medicine more accessible and data-driven than ever before.

Key Topics:

• Neurobiology of Sleep: Sleep-wake regulatory mechanisms, the two-process model, and the role of key brain regions and neurotransmitters in sleep.
• Insomnia: Pathophysiology, cognitive behavioural therapy for insomnia (CBT-I), pharmacotherapy, and digital health approaches.
• Sleep Apnea and Sleep-Disordered Breathing: Mechanisms, diagnosis, CPAP therapy, and the neurological and cardiovascular consequences of untreated sleep apnea.
• Sleep and Psychiatric Disorders: Bidirectional relationships between sleep disruption and depression, anxiety, PTSD, bipolar disorder, and psychosis.
• Circadian Rhythm Disorders: Circadian neurobiology, shift work and social jetlag, and chronotherapy approaches for circadian misalignment.
• Sleep and Neurodegeneration: How sleep disturbances accelerate neurodegeneration, and the role of sleep in glymphatic clearance of neurotoxic proteins.
• Sleep and Memory Consolidation: How different sleep stages contribute to the consolidation of declarative, procedural, and emotional memories.
• Digital Health and Sleep Monitoring: Wearable devices, smartphone apps, and AI-powered tools for sleep monitoring, diagnosis, and intervention.