Sleep spindles and general cognitive ability – A meta-analysis

The scientific discussion of sleep spindles now routinely mentions the association between these oscillations and cognitive ability. Numerous studies have been published on topic with various methodologies highly divergent results. In this meta-analysis relevant literature (total k = 22 articles, total N 953 subjects), it is concluded that there evidence for a modest positive ability slow ( r .113) fast .183) spindle amplitudes also some an duration .087) but none associations other parameters. Evidence publication bias was found in case amplitude density, correlation robust to effect. Studies more females reported weaker duration, effect driven by single study all-male sample, no size significantly moderated age or sex. Most were conducted small data sets did not exhaustively report all measured associations. It recommended future having access both intelligence measures their associations, regardless nature, be pooled across research groups statistical power, at least basic agreement detection classification criteria reached community.