ArticleInternational journal of molecular sciences2026
Tryptophan-Serotonin-Melatonin Pathway as a Contributor to Changes in Mood and Cognitive Functions Induced by Sleep Deprivation.
Article in International journal of molecular sciences, 2026. The graph could read no effect estimate from its abstract, so it casts no vote on the map. Not yet cited in PubMed.
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Abstract
Sleep deprivation (DS) is a reduction in sleep duration due to voluntary or external factors. The mechanisms underlying the psychological and cognitive consequences of DS are complex and incompletely understood; one proposed pathway involves alterations in the serotonin (5-HT) and melatonin (MLT) systems. This study aimed to assess the effects of a single night of DS on the tryptophan (TP)-5-HT-MLT system and to examine their associations with mood and cognitive performance. Eighty healthy adults underwent polysomnography (PSG) and actigraphy-monitored DS. Blood samples, mood assessments, and cognitive tests (BEHCT, TMT, Stroop) were performed before and after PSG and DS. Levels of serotonin transporter (SERT) mRNA, TP, 5-HT, and MLT were measured. Participants were classified as Responders (RE) or Non-Responders (NR) based on post-DS mood change. DS significantly decreased TP and MLT overall. In NR, 5-HT increased and MLT decreased, unlike in RE. ΔBEHCT correlated positively with ΔTP (RE), Δ5-HT (overall), and ΔMLT (overall and RE), and negatively with ΔSERT mRNA (NR). In RE, ΔSERT mRNA negatively correlated with ΔStroop performance and positively with ΔTMT. Acute DS disrupts the TP-5-HT-MLT axis, with effects differing by mood response. These changes may influence cognitive outcomes after sleep loss.
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