Sophie Carter
RESEARCHER PROFILE
PhD Student
Sophie Carter is working with the NeuRA Sleep and Breathing research team. She previously studied a Bachelor of Science focusing on human anatomy. Sophie’s PhD research project is focused on the effect of the common sleeping pill zopiclone on obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity and symptoms. Sophie’s project will contribute to furthering the understanding of the underlying causes of OSA, and developing new & improved methods for the diagnosis and treatment of OSA.
Projects Sophie Carter is currently involved with
CURRENT PROJECTS
The Effects of “Z Drugs” in People With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
Obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is a common disorder characterised by repetitive narrowing and collapse of the upper airway during sleep. It is associated with daytime sleepiness, neurocognitive impairment, and a variety of adverse cardiovascular consequences. The first line treatment for OSA is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. If tolerated, CPAP is highly effective in reducing sleep disordered breathing events. However, up to 50% of OSA patients are unable to tolerate CPAP therapy leaving many OSA patients without treatment.
Previous studies indicate that in selected obstructive sleep apnea participants a standard dose of a z-drug can shift the threshold for awakening during sleep (arousal) whilst maintaining the upper airway muscle activity required to keep the airway open. This study aims to investigate the effects of different doses of sleeping pills (Z-drugs) on how easily people wake up when the airway narrows during sleep, the activity of a major muscle located under the tongue (genioglossus) and obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) severity and symptoms.
READ MORE
The Effects of “Z Drugs” in People With Obstructive Sleep Apnoea
RESEARCH TEAM
DR PETER BURKE Postdoctoral fellow
RICHARD LIM Honours student
DR AHMAD BAMAGOOS PhD student
AMAL OSMAN PhD student
BENJAMIN TONG
Sleep Lab Manager
: 9399 1886
: sleeplab@neura.edu.au
PUBLICATIONS
Zopiclone Increases the Arousal Threshold without Impairing Genioglossus Activity in Obstructive Sleep Apnea.
Carter SG, Berger MS, Carberry JC, Bilston LE, Butler JE, Tong BK, Martins RT, Fisher LP, McKenzie DK, Grunstein RR, Eckert DJ
To determine the effects of the nonbenzodiazepine sedative zopiclone on the threshold to arousal with increasing respiratory effort and genioglossus muscle activity and to examine potential physiological factors mediating disparate effects of zopiclone on obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) severity between patients. In a group of patients with predominantly severe OSA, zopiclone increased the arousal threshold without reducing genioglossus muscle activity or its responsiveness to negative pharyngeal pressure. These properties may be beneficial in some patients with OSA with certain pathophysiological characteristics but may worsen hypoxemia in others.
