Chronic Sleep Deprivation in Mouse Pups by Means of Gentle Handling

This method can help answer key questions in the sleep field such as the affects of chronic sleep restriction during postnatal development. The main advantage of this technique is that it is less stressful than other sleep deprivation techniques and can easily be used throughout development and continue into adulthood. Begin by assigning each cage to either the sleep deprivation or control group.

Ensure that mice have access to food and water ad libitum, and remove any food, bedding, or enrichment objects that might restrict the view of the mice. For the control group, remove the sire from the breeder cage on postnatal day five and leave the dam with the pups until weaning. Next, move mice assigned to the control group to the sleep deprivation room and gently prod the mice with a paintbrush continuously for 10 minutes a day for the duration of the experiment.