Presentation Information
[P3-01]Perceiving Time in Sleep: Links between Misperception, REM Sleep, and Depressivity in Insomnia
*Jana Koprivova1,2, Julie Siskova1, Karolina Janku1 (1. National Institute of Mental Health, Klecany (Czech Republic), 2. Third Faculty of Medicine, Charles University, Prague (Czech Republic))
Keywords:
time perception,sleep misperception,REM sleep,depressivity,insomnia
Subjective time perception is a crucial aspect of conscious experience, including during sleep. In individuals with insomnia, distortions in temporal estimation often manifest as sleep misperception—a mismatch between perceived and objectively measured sleep duration. This exploratory correlational study investigated two potential contributors to time misperception in insomnia: (1) the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, a stage associated with emotional regulation, and (2) subjective levels of depressivity, which have been linked to both insomnia and altered temporal experience. A total of 202 patients diagnosed with insomnia underwent overnight polysomnography at the National Institute of Mental Health (Czech Republic) between 2017 and 2024. Subjective sleep estimates and depressive symptoms (BDI-II) were assessed alongside objective sleep parameters. Sleep misperception was calculated as the difference between self-reported and measured total sleep time. The results showed no significant association between REM sleep and sleep misperception (r = 0.091, p = 0.103). However, a weak but significant positive correlation was found between sleep misperception and depressive symptom severity (r = 0.154, p = 0.029). These findings suggest that distorted time perception during sleep may be more strongly influenced by affective and cognitive factors than by REM-related physiology. To further investigate the neurophysiological basis of this phenomenon, we are conducting follow-up analyses of sleep microstructure. Preliminary results focusing on potential electrophysiological markers of time misperception in insomnia, will also be presented. Supported by ERDF-Project Brain dynamics, No. CZ.02.01.01/00/ 22_008/00046 43 and by the Charles University fund Cooperatio 38 - Neurosciences.