My primary research focus is on association between stress across life and changes in sleep and circadian rhythms, with a translational perspective (animal models and human studies). One of the main goals is investigating consequences of different early life conditions on health later in life (sleep, circadian rhythms, behavior, cognition, molecular markers), and which factors can moderate the effects of adverse early life events.

Another research focus is on consequences of nightshift-work for sleep, circadian rhythms and waking function. One of the main goals is to investigate how different lighting conditions can be used to alleviate sleepiness and improve cognitive function during nightshift-work and to identify molecular mechanisms.

 

Methods:

Animal models

• Objective measures of sleep and waking function
• Objective measures of circadian rhythmicity
• Electrophysiology
• Polysomnography
• Behavioural tests

Human studies

• Subjective and objective measures of sleep and waking function
• Subjective and objective measures of circadian rhythmicity
• Polysomnography
• Cognitive tests 

Podcast episode (in Norwegian)

• Søvn og ernæring - hvordan henger dette sammen?

 

Articles (in Norwegian)

• Kan vi spise oss til bedre søvn?, SØVN, 2018, 2:26-29
• Normal utvikling av hjernen, SØVN, 2013, 1:14-15
• Sommerskole i døgnrytmer og søvn, SØVN, 2017, 2:35-37
• Hva skjer med søvn hos ungdom og hvordan kan vi lære dem at søvn er viktig?, SØVN, 2016, 1:18-22

Course coordinator:

• Behavioral Neuroscience: Biological psychology MAPSYK337

Other courses:

• Biological psychology PROPSY303
• Development, cognitive and biological psychology PSYK114
• Circadian rhythms, sleep and behavior PSYK115
• Behaviour, health and nutrition PSYK140
• Circadian rhythms and sleep their role in mental and physical health, safety and productivity (NRSN summer school 2017)
• Course in interdisciplinary neuroscience - IGSIN913

 

Some topics that I teach:

• Neuroanatomy and neurophysiology
• Development of the nervous system
• Nutrition and brain function
• Sleep across species
• Sleep and circadian rhythms across life span
• Stress regulation

Academic article

• Torhild Thue Pedersen; Erlend Sunde; Jonathan P. Wisor et al. (2022). Sleep homeostasis and night work: a polysomnographic study of daytime sleep following three consecutive simulated night shifts. (external link)
• Bjørn Bjorvatn; Jelena Mrdalj; Ingvild W. Saxvig et al. (2017). Age and sex differences in bedroom habits and bedroom preferences. (external link)
• Janne Grønli; Peter Meerlo; Torhild Pedersen et al. (2016). A rodent model of night-shift work induces short-term and enduring sleep and electroencephalographic disturbances. (external link)
• Iris Mulders Steine; Anne Marita Milde; Bjørn Bjorvatn et al. (2012). Forekomsten av seksuelle overgrep i et representativt befolkningsutvalg i Norge. (external link)
• Jubayer Hossain; Lars Andreas Rømo Ystaas; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2016). Lentiviral HSV-Tk.007-mediated suicide gene therapy is not toxic for normal brain cells. (external link)
• Janne Grønli; Jelena Mrdalj (2018). Can night shift workers benefit from light exposure?. (external link)
• Oda Bugge Kambestad; Kristine Sirevåg; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2023). Physical Exercise and Serum BDNF Levels: Accounting for the Val66Met Polymorphism in Older Adults. (external link)
• Anne Marie Kinn Rød; Robert Murison; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2014). Effects of social defeat on sleep and behaviour: Importance of the confrontational behaviour. (external link)
• Erlend Sunde; Jelena Mrdalj; Torhild Pedersen et al. (2020). Role of nocturnal light intensity on adaptation to three consecutive night shifts: a counterbalanced crossover study. (external link)
• Erlend Sunde; Torhild Pedersen; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2020). Blue-enriched white light improves performance but not subjective alertness and circadian adaptation during three consecutive simulated night shifts. (external link)
• Erlend Sunde; Jelena Mrdalj; Torhild Thue Pedersen et al. (2022). Bright light exposure during simulated night work improves cognitive flexibility. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2013). Early and later life stress alter brain activity and sleep in rats. (external link)
• Michael J. Rempe; Janne Grønli; Torhild Pedersen et al. (2018). Mathematical modeling of sleep state dynamics in a rodent model of shift work. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; Sudarshan Patil; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2017). No escaping the rat race: simulated night shift work alters the time-of-day variation in BMAL1 translational activity in the prefrontal cortex. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Åse Lundegaard Mattson; Robert Murison et al. (2014). Hypothermia after chronic mild stress exposure in rats with a history of postnatal maternal separations. (external link)
• Iris Mulders Steine; Tetyana Zayats; Christine Stansberg et al. (2016). Implication of NOTCH1 Gene in Susceptibility to Anxiety and Depression among Sexual Abuse Victims. (external link)
• Eliann Øines; Robert Murison; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2012). Neonatal maternal separation in male rats increases intestinal permeability and affects behavior after chronic social stress. (external link)
• Lars Ertesvåg Breivik; Erik Helgeland; Eva-Katrine Aarnes et al. (2011). Remote postconditioning by humoral factors in effluent from ischemic preconditioned rat hearts is mediated via PI3K/Akt-dependent cell-survival signaling at reperfusion. (external link)
• Erlend Sunde; Torhild Pedersen; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2020). Alerting and Circadian Effects of Short-Wavelength vs. Long-Wavelength Narrow-Bandwidth Light during a Simulated Night Shift. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; Torhild Pedersen; Jonathan P. Wisor et al. (2020). Cognitive function and brain plasticity in a rat model of shift work: role of daily rhythms, sleep and glucocorticoids. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Robert Murison; Jonathan Soule et al. (2016). Mild daily stressors in adulthood may counteract behavioural effects after constant presence of mother during early life. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; Peter Meerlo; Janne Grønli et al. (2016). Shift in food intake and changes in metabolic regulation and gene expression during simulated night-shiftwork: A rat model. (external link)

Media interview

• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). tips for å sovne raskere. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Derfor sover du dårlig første natten hjemmefra. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Om å sove ute. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Om det å sove ut i helgene. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Om lyse netter og søvn. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Om sene kvelder og lyse netter på sommeren. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Slik får du sove i ferien. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Om søvn i ferien hos barn. (external link)

Master’s thesis

• Jelena Mrdalj; Boleslaw Srebro (2006). Meaning of motivation and spontaneous exploration for the firing properties of place cells in CA1 area of hippocampus: electrophysiological study in freely-moving rats. (external link)

Conference abstract

• Bjørn Bjorvatn; Jelena Mrdalj; Ingvild W. Saxvig et al. (2016). Use of electronic media in bed and reading in bed after bedtime – Age and sex differences in a representative adult population.. (external link)
• Michael J. Rempe; Torhild Thue Pedersen; Peter Meerlo et al. (2016). A rat model for shiftwork: Effects on sleep architecture and sleep homeostasis.. (external link)
• Anne Marie Kinn Rød; Jelena Mrdalj; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2012). Sleep architecture, behaviour, corticosterone and acoustic startle response after double exposure to social defeat in rats. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; Jelena Mrdalj; Silje Skrede et al. (2016). Simulated night work alters clock gene expression in central and peripheral tissue in rats.. (external link)

Conference poster

• Torhild Pedersen; Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen et al. (2018). Daytime sleep following night shifts- impact of light intensity. (external link)
• Janne Grønli; Anne Marita Milde; Robert Murison et al. (2012). Early life stress modulates responses to chronic stress later in life; affective and behavioural outcomes in rats. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; Silje Skrede; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2018). Extending the photoperiod impacts circadian rhythmicity and gene expression in prefrontal cortex and retina- Impact of exposure to blue-enriched light.. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; jorrit waslander; Silje Skrede et al. (2018). Extended photoperiod alters circadian rhythmicity and expression of neuroplasticity markers. The impact of blue-enriched light.. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Robert Murison; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2010). Altered Body Temperature Rhythm and Depression-like Symptoms following Early and Later Life Stress in Rats. (external link)
• Janne Grønli; Robert Murison; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2011). Animal model of early and later life stress alters body temperature rhythm and induces depression-like symptoms. (external link)
• Anne Marie Kinn; Jelena Mrdalj; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2011). Short- and long- term effects on sleep architecture, behaviour, corticosterone and acoustic startle response after two exposures to social defeat in rats. (external link)
• Louise Haugen Bjerrum; Torhild Pedersen; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2018). Prolonged photoperiod alters time in sleep and slow-wave activity. The impact of blue-enriched light.. (external link)
• Torhild Pedersen; Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen et al. (2018). Daytime sleep following bright light exposure during simulated night shift work.. (external link)
• Eliann Øines; Robert Murison; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2010). Chronic social stress increases colonic permeability in rats postnatally exposed to long maternal separation. (external link)
• Michael J. Rempe; Torhild Thue Pedersen; Peter Meerlo et al. (2016). A rat model for shiftwork: Effects on sleep architecture and sleep homeostasis.. (external link)
• Anne Marie Kinn Rød; Robert Murison; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2013). Effects of Social Defeat on sleep and behaviour: The importance of the confrontational behaviour. (external link)
• Janne Grønli; Andrea Rørvik Marti; jorrit waslander et al. (2018). Extended photoperiod alters sleep and expression of synaptic plasticity-associated genes. The impact of blue-enriched light.. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Robert Murison; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2010). Chronic mild stress alters body temperature rhythm and induces depression-like symptoms in rats postnatally exposed to long maternal separations. (external link)
• Anne Marie Kinn Rød; Jelena Mrdalj; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2012). Sleep Architecture, Behaviour, Corticosterone and Acoustic Startle Response after Double Exposure to Social Defeat in Rats. (external link)
• Bjørn Bjorvatn; Jelena Mrdalj; Ingvild W. Saxvig et al. (2016). Use of electronic media in bed and reading in bed after bedtime – Age and sex differences in a representative adult population.. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Erlend Sunde; Torhild Pedersen et al. (2018). Effects of bright light on sleepiness and cognitive performance during simulated night shift work.. (external link)
• Anne Marie Kinn; Bjørn Bjorvatn; Jelena Mrdalj et al. (2010). A study of long-term effects on body temperature rhythm after two exposures to social defeat in rats. (external link)
• Torhild Pedersen; Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen et al. (2018). Bright light exposure during simulated night shift work- impact on daytime sleep.. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Robert Murison; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2010). Chronic mild stress alters body temperature rhythm and induces depression-like symptoms in rats postnatally exposed to long maternal separation. (external link)

Conference lecture

• Jelena Mrdalj; Robert Murison; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2010). Early Life Stress and the effect on circadian rhythmicity. The mother - infant relationship in rats as model. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Janne Grønli (2013). Early and later life stress in rats. Effects on sleep EEG and circadian rhythmicity. (external link)
• Finn Konow Jellestad; Jelena Mrdalj; Anne Marie Kinn et al. (2011). Experiences with the 4ET transmitters in telemetric measurement of EEG, EMG, body temperature and motor activity in male rats exposed to early and later life stress. (external link)
• Andrea Rørvik Marti; Jelena Mrdalj; Silje Skrede et al. (2016). Simulated night work alters clock gene expression in central and peripheral tissue in rats.. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Torhild Thue Pedersen; Andrea Rørvik Marti et al. (2015). Night work - disturbances in sleep and circadian rhythm parameters. An animal model.. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Anne Marita Milde; Janne Grønli (2009). Rhythms, sleep and biology after maternal separations. The mother – infant relationship. (external link)
• Erlend Sunde; Jelena Mrdalj; Torhild Pedersen et al. (2019). Effects of Different Light Intensities on Adaptation to Simulated Night Shifts: A Randomized Counterbalanced Crossover Study. (external link)
• Iris Mulders Steine; Tetyana Zayats; Christine Stansberg et al. (2016). Implication of NOTCH1 Gene in Comorbid Anxiety and Depression Symptoms in a Sample of Sexual Abuse Victims.. (external link)
• Erlend Sunde; Jelena Mrdalj; Torhild Thue Pedersen et al. (2022). Reversal learning and working memory scanning task performance improve with bright light exposure during simulated night work: a counterbalanced crossover study. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2011). Early and later life stress leads to a lower brain activity during sleep and wakefulness in rats. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Robert Murison; Finn Konow Jellestad et al. (2013). Hypothermia after chronic mild stress exposure in rats with ahistory of postnatal maternal separation. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2011). Lower brain activity during sleep and wakefullnes; induced by exposure to long maternal separation and chronic mild stress in rats. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj; Ståle Pallesen; Anne Marita Milde et al. (2011). Chronic mild stress potentiates a lower brain activity during sleep and wakefulness in rats exposed to long maternal separation. (external link)

Non-fiction book chapter

• Anne Marita Milde; Jelena Mrdalj (2021). Animal models for psychological disorders. (external link)

Popular science article

• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Hva skjer med søvn hos ungdom og hvordan kan vi lære dem at søvn er viktig?. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Basalforskning på WorldSleep konferansen 2015. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Årets publikasjon 2015. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2016). Basalforskning på ESRS 2016. (external link)
• Jelena Mrdalj (2018). Kan man spise seg til bedre søvn?. (external link)

Doctoral thesis (PhD)

• Jelena Mrdalj (2014). The early life condition: Importance for sleep, circadian rhythmicity, behaviour and response to later life challenges. (external link)

Professional article

• Jelena Mrdalj (2013). Normal utvikling av hjernen. (external link)

Radio or TV participation

• Kjersti Marie Blytt; Elisabeth Flo-Groeneboom; Jelena Mrdalj (2024). Søvn og ernæring - hvordan henger dette sammen?. (external link)

See a complete overview of publications in Cristin.

Publication list in PubMed

• The early life condition - A translational study of affective and behavioral outcomes and genetic modulation
• Consequences of night shift simulation on waking performance, sleep, circadian rhythmicity and brain function
• Sleep dynamics in rats after exposure to long or short photoperiod