Bergen Stress and Sleep Group

We all experience stress in our lives, whether it is brought on by our jobs, our personal lives or even just standing in traffic jam. Stress is inevitable and can impact our lives in many ways. In general, stress is good for us. But sometimes it can take a serious toll on our everyday functions — especially disturbing our sleep, circadian rhythms and our brains’ ability to adapt to the environment.

Dreamscape of girl under Brain tree, brain waves, light and circadian rythms — Photo: BSSG

Affiliation

About the research group

The main research focus of Bergen Stress and Sleep Group is
- the role of stress in physiological and psychological recovery
- causes of disturbed sleep and circadian rhythm (especially shift work and light exposure)
- measurement of sleep quality and circadian rhythms
- effects of acute and chronic stressors in different stages in life- on wakefulness, sleep and circadian rhythms
- the relationship between stress, sleep and mental health (affective disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder),

Our approach is essentially translational, we use clinical and human data in forming our animal model research, and vice versa. This allows us to study biological and psychological consequences after shiftwork, in affective disorders and post-traumatic stress disorder, in the human population and potential animal models thereof which allow identification of potential markers for risk. In these endeavors, we collaborate with partners at the local, national and international levels.

Projects

The early life condition - A translational study of affective and behavioral outcomes and genetic modulation

The primary objective of this project is to establish translational research on early life stress with affective, behavioral outcome as well as genetic modulation, with a strong gender perspective.

Consequences of night shift simulation on waking performance, sleep, circadian rhythmicity and brain function

The primary objective of this project is to establish translational research on the effects of simulated night shift work on waking performance, sleep, circadian rhythmicity, metabolic measures and molecular markers of brain function. The objective is also to investigate ways to counter these negative effects, particularly how light of different intensity and color quality impact on waking performance and brain function.

Validation of radar technology as a new tool for wireless sleep assessment

Publications

Articles

2025

Bille S, Bering T, Blancas-Velazquez AS, Hessels R, Mattern KM, Grønli J, Rath MF (2025). Mol Neurobiol. Nov 22;63(1):132

2024

Hjelmervik H, Hausmann M, Bless JJ, Harkestad N, Hugdahl K, Laloyaux J (2024). Psychoneuroendocrinology. Jan;159:106410.

2023

Bugge Kambestad O, Sirevåg K, Mrdalj J, Hovland A, Bruun Endal T, Andersson E, Sjøbø T, Haukenes Stavestrand S (2023). Cogn Behav Neurol. Dec 1;36(4):219-227.

2022

Pedersen TT, Sunde E, Wisor J, Mrdalj J, Pallesen S, Grønli J (2022). Nat Sci Sleep; 14:243-254

Sunde E, Mrdalj J, Pedersen TT, Bjorvatn B, Grønli J, Harris A, Waage S, Pallesen S (2022). Chronobiol Int; 39(7):948-963

Liset R, Grønli J, Henriksen RE, Henriksen TEG, Nilsen RM, Pallesen S (2022). PLoS One; 17(1):e0262799.

Johansen VA, Milde AM, Nilsen RM, Breivik K, Nordanger D, Stormark KM, Weisæth L. (2022). . J Interpers Violence; 37:9-10

Vaisvilaite L, Hushagen V, Grønli J, Specht K (2022) Brain Connect; 12(6):515-523.

Skeie-Larsen M, Stave R, Grønli J, Bjorvatn B, Wilhelmsen-Langeland A, Zandi A, Pallesen S (2022) Int J Environ Res Public Health. Dec 31;20(1):777

Vethe D, Drews HJ, Scott J, Engstrøm M, Heglum HSA, Grønli J, Wisor JP, Sand T, Lydersen S, Kjørstad K, Faaland PMP, Vestergaard CL, Langsrud K, Kallestad H (2022) Sci Rep, May 24;12(1):8719

Pandi-Perumal SR, Kumar VM, Pandian NG, de Jong JT, Andiappan S, Corlateanu A, Mahalaksmi AM, Chidambaram SB, Kumar RR, Ramasubramanian C, Sivasubramaniam S, Bjørkum AA, Cutajar J, Berk M, Trakht I, Vrdoljak A, Meira E Cruz M, Eyre HA, Grønli J, Cardinali DP, Maercker A, van de Put WACM, Guzder J, Bjorvatn B, Tol WA, Acuña-Castroviejo D, Meudec M, Morin CM, Partinen M, Barbui C, Jordans MJD, Braakman MH, Knaevelsrud C, Pallesen S, Sijbrandij M, Golombek DA, Espie CA, Cuijpers P, Agudelo HAM, van der Velden K, van der Kolk BA, Hobfoll SE, Devillé WLJM, Gradisar M, Riemann D, Axelsson J, Benítez-King G, Macy RD, Poberezhets V, Hoole SRH, Murthy RS, Hegemann T, Heinz A, Salvage J, McFarlane AC, Keukens R, de Silva H, Oestereich C, Wilhelm J, von Cranach M, Hoffmann K, Klosinski M, Bhugra D, Seeman MV (2022). Sleep Vigil; 6(1):1-6

2021

Milde AM, Gramm HB, Paaske I, Kleiven PG, Christiansen O, Havnen KJS (2021). Child Fam Soc Work

Liset R, Grønli J, Henriksen RE, Henriksen TEG, Nilsen RM, Pallesen S (2021) PLoS One;16(6):e0252285.

Liset R, Grønli J, Henriksen RE, Henriksen TEG, Nilsen RM, Pallesen S (2021). . Neurobiol Sleep Circadian Rhythms;12:100074

Bless JJ, Hugdahl K, Kråkvik B, Vedul-Kjelsås E, Kalhovde AM, Grønli J, Larøy F (2021) Compr Psychiatry;108:152247.

Wisor JP, Holmedahl NH, Saxvig IW, Fjeldstad OM, Weitzberg E, Grønli J, Engan HK (2021) . Nat Sci Sleep;13:435-46.

2020

Marti AR, Pedersen T, Wisor JP, Mrdalj J, Holmelid Ø, Patil S, Meerlo P, Bramham CR, Grønli J. (2020). Sci Rep, 10(1), 13141.

Sunde E, Mrdalj J, Pedersen T, Thun E, Bjorvatn B, Grønli J, Harris A, Waage S, Pallesen S. (2020). Occup Environ Med, 77(4), 249-255.

Sunde E, Pedersen T, Mrdalj J, Thun E, Grønli J, Harris A, Bjorvatn, B, Waage S, Skene DJ, Pallesen S. (2020a). Clocks Sleep, 2(4): 502-522.

Sunde E, Pedersen T, Mrdalj J, Thun E, Grønli J, Harris A, Bjorvatn, B, Waage S, Skene DJ, Pallesen S. (2020). Front Psychol, 11, 2172.

Albaek AU, Binder PE, Milde AM (2020). . Qual Health Res 30(8): 1212-1224.

Ousdal OT, Milde AM, Hafstad GS, Hodneland E, Dyb G, Craven AR, Melinder A, Endestad T, Hugdahl K. (2020). Transl Psychiatry 10(1): 288.

Steine IM, Nielsen B, Porter PA, Krystal JH, Winje D, Grønli J, Milde AM, Bjorvatn B, Nordhus IH, Pallesen S. (2020). Eur J Psychotraumatol, 11(1):1815282.

Steine IM, Winje D, Krystal JH, Milde AM, Bjorvatn B, Nordhus IH, Grønli J, Pallesen S. (2020 Child Abuse Negl, 107, 104566.

Toften S, Pallesen S, Hrozanova M, Moen F, Grønli, J. (2020). Sleep Med, 75, 54-61.

Hansen AL, Ambroziak G, Thornton D, Mundt JC, Kahn RE, Dahl L, Waage L, Kattenbraker D, Araujo P, Murison R, Rypdal K, Grung B. (2020) , Nutrients 12(11):3258.

Henriksen TEG, Grønli J, Assmus J, Fasmer OB, Schøyen H, Leskauskaite I, Bjørke-Bertheussen J, Ytrehus K, Lund A. (2020) , J Sleep Res, 29(5), e12984.

Books

Janne Grønli (2020). Søvkoden helt opplagt. Editor: Malene Vilnes. Frisk forlag. ISBN: 9788293428510

Lehnert H, Murison R, Weiner H, Hellhammer D, Beyer J. (1993). Endocrine and Nutritional Control of Basic Biological Functions. Hogrefe & Huber. ISBN: 978-0889370760

Book Sections

Milde AM, Mrdalj J (2021) Animal Models for Psychological Disorders. In: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science (4th Edition). CRC Press.

Grønli J. (2018). Søvn. In: Operativ psykologi (3rd Edition): Fagbokforlaget. ISBN: 9788245025217

Murison R. (2016). . In: The Neuroscience of Pain, Stress, and Emotion (pp. 29 - 49): Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-800538-5

Melinder A, Milde AM. (2016). Chapter 5. In: De berørte etter 22. juli. Forskningsetiske perspektiver. (pp. 73-84): Cappelen Damm Akademisk. ISBN: 9788202522056.

Jellestad FK (2011). Hjernen og rusavhengighet. Chapter 4. In: Håndbok i Rusbehandling. (pp. 66-77): Gyldendal Akademisk. ISBN: 978-82-05-39886-3.

Murison R, Milde AM. (2011). . Chapter 3. In: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science (3rd Edition). (pp. 29-45): CRC Press. ISBN: 9781-4200-8457-3.

Portas CM, Grønli J. (2008). . In: Serotonin and Sleep: Molecular, Functional and Clinical Aspects. (pp. 325-369): Birkhäuser Verlag. ISBN: 978-3-7643-8560-6.

Murison R, Milde AM. (2007). Ulceration, Gastric. Chapter 3. In: Encylopedia of Stress (2nd Edition). (pp. 787-791): Elsevier. ISBN: 978-0-12-088503-9.

Murison R, Milde AM. (2007) Gastrointestinal Effects. Chapter 2. In: Encylopedia of Stress (2nd Edition). (pp. 109-114): Elsevier ISBN: 978-0-12-088503-9.

Overmier JB, Murison R. (2004). Gastric ulcers and stress. Gastric ulcers and stress, In: Encyclopedia of Health & Behavior.( pp. 349-355): Sage Publications. ISBN: 0-7619-2360-8.

Overmier JB, Murison R. (2004). Animal models. . In: The Concise Corsini Encyclopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science. (pp. 58-59): John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 0-471-22036-1.

Overmier JB, Murison R, Milde AM. (2004). External Events Are Internalized in the Brain-Gut Axis. In: Proceedings of the 111th International Conference on Ulcer Research. (pp. 447-454): Bologne: Medimond. ISBN: 88-758-7021-7.

Murison R. (2003). Animal models for psychological disorders. In: Handbook of Laboratory Animal Science Volume II: Animal Models. (pp. 111-123): CRC Press. ISBN: 0-8493-1084-9.

Overmier JB, Murison R. (2001). Animal Models. In: The Corsini Encylopedia of Psychology and Behavioral Science. (pp. 105-108). John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 0471239496.

Jellestad FK. (2000). IKT og læring blant voksne. In: Læring hos voksne. (pp. 146-158): Sigma. ISBN: 82-7916-007-8.

Murison R. (2000). Gastrointestinal effects. In: Encyclopedia of Stress. (pp. 191-196): Academic press. ISBN: 0-12-226738-9.

Murison R. (2000). Ulceration. In: Encyclopedia of Stress. (pp. 631-634): Academic press. ISBN: 0-12-226738-9.

Bakke HK, Murison R. (1995). Cortictropin releasing factor and gastric erosions. In: Neuroendocrinology of Gastrointestinal Ulceration: Hans Selye Symposia on Neuroendocrinology and Stress. Volume 2. Plenum Press. ISBN: 978-0899304922

Jellestad FK, Follesø GS, Ursin H. (1995). The Neurobiological Foundation of Exploration. In: Curiosity and Exploration. (pp. 43-64): Springer Publishing Company. ISBN: 978-3-540-54867-6

Jellestad FK (1994). Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Exposure on Information Transmission in The Hippocampal Formation of Rats. Effects of Hyperbaric Oxygen Exposure. In: Long term health effects of diving. (pp. 149-155): Best Pub Co. ISBN: 82-7280-351-8.

Jellestad FK. (1994). Heterosynaptic Facilitation. In: Encyclopedia of Psychology. (pp. 122-124): John Wiley & Sons. ISBN: 0471558192.

Deizner R, Murison R, Hellhammer D, Lehnert H. (1993). Can tyrosine prevent poststress disturbances? In:Endocrine and Nutritional Control of Basic Biological Functions. (pp. 421-426): Hogrefe & Huber. ISBN: 978-0889370760

Jellestad FK, Murison RCC (1987). Stereotactic, electrical and chemical lesions. In: Advanced Methods in Psychobiology. (pp. 73-83): C.J. Hogrefe, Inc. ISBN: 9780889370111

Ursin H, Jellestad FK, Garcia CI. (1981). The amygdala, exploration and fear. In: The Amygdaloid complex. (pp. 317–325): Elsevier. ISBN: 0-444-80397-1.

Doctoral dissertations

Randi Liset.
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Andrea Rørvik Marti.
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Erlend Sunde.
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Ane Ugland Albæk..
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Iris Mulders Steine.
Tone Fidje Blågestad.
Jelena Mrdalj.
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Anne Marie Kinn Rød.
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Elisabeth Flo.
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Janne Grønli.
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Anne Marita Milde.
Tone Sandbak. .

Master's theses

Rita Koefoed Khairbek, 2025. The effect of 24 hours rythmic release of corticosterone on learing behaviour
Christoffer Nerheim With, 2025. The effect of 24h rhythmic corticosterone release on sleep and wakefulness.
Sanne Myrmel, 2024. The effect of early life stress on synaptic plasticity
Celine Yttervik, 2025. The effect of early life stress on synaptic plasticity
Torbjørn Gisleberg, 2022.
Robin Bjorheim, 2021.
Amalie Aasvang, 2021.
Oda Bugge Kambestad, 2020.
Anna Elfrida Hovde Vollsund, 2020. The relationship between shift work, sleep disturbances and oxidative stress in the brain
Julija Stila, 2020.
Maiken Birkelid, 2019.
Øystein Holmelid, 2019.
Vetle Hushagen, 2019.
Josien Janssen, 2019. Effects of simulated night shift work on circadian rhythmicity of body temperature
Louise Haugen Bjerrum, 2018.
Torhild Pedersen, 2016. Night work and disturbances in sleep- an animal model
Lars Erik Schiro, 2016. An evaluation of TimeSTAMP2 knockin mice -For novel drug-dependent epitope-tagging of newly synthesized Arc during long-term potentiation in the dentate gyrus of adult anesthetized mice
Andrea Rørvik Marti, 2015.