University of Oregon · PsychologySleep and Alcohol Research Lab
Melynda D Casement · Eugene, Oregon
Research Focus
Dr. Melynda D. Casement's research focuses on understanding how sleep patterns influence alcohol use disorder (AUD) among young adults. By examining the interplay between sleep duration, sleep timing, stress, and brain function, her lab aims to identify mechanisms that lead to high-risk drinking behaviors. This research has the potential to inform new strategies for preventing and treating alcohol misuse in young people.
alcohol use disordersleep durationstressreward functionyoung adultsmental health promotioncircadian rhythmshigh-risk drinking
Research Aims
3AIM 01Evaluate how sleep duration and timing predict brain function related to reward and stress.
AIM 02Investigate the effects of sleep duration and timing on alcohol use behaviors.
AIM 03Determine if changes in brain function mediate the relationship between sleep patterns and alcohol use.
Skills the Lab Values
psychological assessmentsexperimental designsleep monitoringbehavioral analysisdata collectionstatistical analysisrecruitment strategiesintervention techniquesself-report measures
Output against the department
Publications61bottom 12% of dept.260th of 296
this lab
most publishedleast published
Citations2.2kbottom 22% of dept.231st of 296
this lab
most citedleast cited
Career totals from OpenAlex, compared against labs that share a department. A department spans everything from one paper to tens of thousands, so bar heights are on a log scale — otherwise the largest lab would flatten every other bar to a line.