Season 6 | Episode 24

DR. MAYA SCHENKER, GUEST

In this episode, host Dr. Seema Khosla welcomes Dr. Maya Schenker, a postdoctoral researcher from the University of Melbourne, who has dedicated her research to understanding the complex relationship between sleep and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). With a focus on the bidirectional mechanisms linking sleep and trauma, Dr. Schenker explores how sleep can be a critical intervention point for managing and potentially preventing PTSD.

Discover the latest insights into how sleep impacts trauma response, including the role of REM sleep, fear conditioning, and the neurological processes that contribute to PTSD development. The conversation delves into why women are more susceptible to PTSD, the potential of sleep interventions, and breakthrough research on preventing trauma-related sleep disorders. Whether you’re a healthcare professional or interested in understanding the intricate connections between sleep and mental health, this episode offers valuable perspectives on trauma, sleep, and healing.

Headshot photo of Dr. Maya Schenker with Talking Sleep podcast branding elements

Dr. Maya Schenker is a postdoctoral researcher at the University of Melbourne, Australia. She completed her PhD at the John Trinder sleep laboratory (University of Melbourne) in 2023 where she studied the relationship between sleep and post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Specifically, she focused on the mechanisms underlying sleep and PTSD as well as their bidirectional relationship in day-to-day life. Maya’s goal is to find ways to prevent and manage these disorders by targeting sleep as a modifiable, etiological factor.

Resources

  1. Schenker MT, Theoswin PM, Qian H, Jordan AS, Nicholas CL, Felmingham KL. Sleep and day-to-day PTSD symptom variability: an ecological momentary assessment and actigraphy monitored study in trauma-exposed young adults. Eur J Psychotraumatol. 2023;14(2):2202058. https://doi.org/10.1080/20008066.2023.2202058
  2. Schenker MT, Ney LJ, Miller LN, Felmingham KL, Nicholas CL, Jordan AS. Sleep and fear conditioning, extinction learning and extinction recall: A systematic review and meta-analysis of polysomnographic findings. Sleep Med Rev. 2021 Oct;59:101501. https://doi.org/10.1016/j.smrv.2021.101501
  3. Pace-Schott EF, Germain A, Milad MR. Sleep and REM sleep disturbance in the pathophysiology of PTSD: the role of extinction memory. Biol Mood Anxiety Disord. 2015 May 29;5:3. doi: 10.1186/s13587-015-0018-9. PMID: 26034578; PMCID: PMC4450835. https://doi.org/10.1186/s13587-015-0018-9
  4. Benjet C, Bromet E, Karam EG, Kessler RC, McLaughlin KA, Ruscio AM, Shahly V, Stein DJ, Petukhova M, Hill E, Alonso J, Atwoli L, Bunting B, Bruffaerts R, Caldas-de-Almeida JM, de Girolamo G, Florescu S, Gureje O, Huang Y, Lepine JP, Kawakami N, Kovess-Masfety V, Medina-Mora ME, Navarro-Mateu F, Piazza M, Posada-Villa J, Scott KM, Shalev A, Slade T, ten Have M, Torres Y, Viana MC, Zarkov Z, Koenen KC. The epidemiology of traumatic event exposure worldwide: results from the World Mental Health Survey Consortium. Psychol Med. 2016 Jan;46(2):327-43. https://doi.org/10.1017/s0033291715001981