Research Professor, Department of Medicine, Université de Montréal Cardiologist, Hôpital du Sacré-Coeur de Montréal 514-338-2222 ext. 2418 paola.lanfranchi(at)umontreal.ca Education: M.Sc. in Biomedical sciences (Université de Montréal) M.D. in Medicine and Cardiology (Università degli Studi di Pavia) Research Interests: The autonomic nervous system (electrocardiology, baroreflex, hypoxia, heart rate variability) and its links to sleep and sleep disorders (e.g., chronic primary insomnia, sleepwalking). Pathophysiology of heart failure and sleep disorders in metabolic syndrome. Methodologies: Spectral analysis of heart rate variability, polysomnography.
Team in training:
	Geneviève Scavone (Antonio Zadra, co-director)   M.Sc. candidate in Psychology (Université de Montréal)   2011-ongoing   Thesis title: Stress and autonomous nervous system activation in chronic   primary insomnia

Recent publications:

Postuma RB, Lanfranchi PA, Blais H, Gagnon JF, Montplaisir JY. Cardiac autonomic dysfunction in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Movement Disorders 2010, 25(14), 2304-10.

Lanfranchi PA, Ackerman MJ, Kara T, Shamsuzzaman AS, Wolk R, Jurak P, Amin R, Somers VK. Gene-specific paradoxical QT responses during rapid eye movement sleep in women with congenital long QT syndrome. Heart Rhythm 2010, 7(8), 1067-74.

Nielsen T, Paquette T, Solomonova E, Lara-Carrasco J, Colombo R, Lanfranchi P. Changes in cardiac variability after REM sleep deprivation in recurrent nightmares. Sleep 2010, 33(1), 113-22.

Richard M, LeBlanc AR, Pennestri MH, Montplaisir J, Carrier J, Lavigne G, Lanfranchi PA. The effect of gender on autonomic and respiratory responses during sleep among both young and middle-aged subjects. Sleep Medicine 2007, 8(7-8), 760-7.

Lanfranchi PA, Fradette L, Gagnon JF, Colombo R, Montplaisir J. Cardiac autonomic regulation during sleep in idiopathic REM sleep behavior disorder. Sleep 2007, 30(8), 1019-25.

Pennestri MH, Montplaisir J, Colombo R, Lavigne G, Lanfranchi PA. Nocturnal blood pressure changes in patients with restless legs syndrome. Neurology 2007, 68(15), 1213-8.

Huynh N, Kato T, Rompré PH, Okura K, Saber M, Lanfranchi PA, Montplaisir JY, Lavigne GJ. Sleep bruxism is associated to micro-arousals and an increase in cardiac sympathetic activity. J Sleep Res 2006, 15(3), 339-46.

Huynh N, Lavigne GJ, Lanfranchi PA, Montplaisir JY, de Champlain J. The effect of 2 sympatholytic medications-propranolol and clonidine-on sleep bruxism: experimental randomized controlled studies. Sleep 2006, 29, 307-16.

Lanfranchi PA, Gosselin N, Kara T, Jurak P, Somers VK, Denesle R, Petit D, Carrier J, Nadeau R, Montplaisir J. Menopause, hormone replacement and RR and QT modulation during sleep. Sleep Medicine 2005, 6(6), 561-6.

Lanfranchi PA, Colombo R, Cremona G, Baderna P, Spagnolatti L, Mazzuero G, Wagner P, Perini L, Wagner H, Cavallaro C, Giannuzzi P. Autonomic cardiovascular regulation in subjects with acute mountain sickness. Am J Physiol Heart and Circulatory Physiology 2005, 289(6), H2364-72.