Helena Norman
h.norman.1@research.gla.ac.uk
https://orcid.org/0009-0003-7092-9050
Research title: The effects of climate-related stressors on sleep and associated behavioural and physiological consequences in fish
Research summary
Research Interests
My research explores how environmental stressors, particularly those linked to climate change, impact sleep in fish. I am also interested in how altered sleep can affect next day metabolism, behaviour, cognition and movement.
Current work
Using Trinidadian guppies as a model species to study sleep, I aim to understand how stressors such as temperature and hypoxia alter sleep behaviours and modulate the effects of sleep deprivation. I will specifically explore the effects of sleep changes on metabolism, sociability, cognition, swimming ability, and predator inspection behaviours.
Publications
2026
Norman, Helena, Cortese, Daphne, Munson, Amelia, Lindström, Jan 
ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5630-6680 and Killen, Shaun S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4949-3988
(2026)
The myth of the metabolic baseline: sleep-wake cycles undermine a foundational assumption in organismal biology.
Biological Reviews,
(doi: 10.1002/brv.70133)
(PMID:41572372)
(Early Online Publication)
2025
Norman, Helena and Killen, Shaun S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4949-3988
(2025)
Illuminating confounds: why light-based sleep disruption methods need reconsideration.
Journal of Sleep Research,
(doi: 10.1111/jsr.70186)
(PMID:40858147)
(Early Online Publication)
Articles
Norman, Helena, Cortese, Daphne, Munson, Amelia, Lindström, Jan ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5630-6680 and Killen, Shaun S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4949-3988
(2026)
The myth of the metabolic baseline: sleep-wake cycles undermine a foundational assumption in organismal biology.
Biological Reviews,
(doi: 10.1002/brv.70133)
(PMID:41572372)
(Early Online Publication)
Norman, Helena and Killen, Shaun S. ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0003-4949-3988
(2025)
Illuminating confounds: why light-based sleep disruption methods need reconsideration.
Journal of Sleep Research,
(doi: 10.1111/jsr.70186)
(PMID:40858147)
(Early Online Publication)
Supervisors
External supervisors
Dr Michael Webster (University of St Andrews)
Grants
- Conference Attendance Grant (£410) Association for the Study of Animal Behaviour (ASAB)
- Training & Travel Award (£2700) Respiratory Processes in Coral Reef Organisms training course at the Hawai'i Institute of Marine Biology, 2024
- PhD studentship IAPETUS2 DTP, 2024
Conferences
- Norman, H., Munson, A., Cortese, D., Killen, SS.. (2023). Group size modulates sleep behaviour in the cardinal tetra, Parachierodon axelrodi. Society of Experimental Biology Edinburgh. Poster presentation.
