Many people, particularly the elderly, experience unusual sleep. In specific, the deep sleep stages become shorter and shallower with age. Deep sleep is necessary for the regrowth of the brain and memory, and likewise has a favorable influence on the cardiovascular system.
Scientists have actually revealed that the brain waves defining deep sleep, so- called slow waves, can be enhanced by playing precisely timed sounds through earphones while sleeping. While this works well in the sleep laboratory under controlled conditions, there has actually so far been no in the house service that can be utilized longer than simply one night.
In particular, the deep sleep phases become shorter and shallower with age. Deep sleep is essential for the regrowth of the brain and memory, and also has a favorable influence on the cardiovascular system.
As soon as the sleeping individual reveals slow waves in the brain activity characterising deep sleep, the system triggers a brief auditory signal (clicking). What makes the option distinct is that the person sleeping is not conciously conscious of this sound during deep sleep.
” This is a medical device, not simply a wellness consumer item you can buy online when you have problem sleeping,” emphasises Walter Karlen, who established the innovation at ETH Zurich.
SleepLoop to the rescue
As part of the SleepLoop task, researchers at ETH Zurich have actually established a mobile system that can be utilized in your home and aims to promote deep sleep through auditory brain stimulation.
The SleepLoop system established by ETH Zurich scientists releases a sound at the right time to amplify the slow brain waves. Credit: Sleeploop
This headband contains electrodes and a microchip that continuously measure the brain activity of the person sleeping. As soon as the sleeping person shows sluggish waves in the brain activity characterising deep sleep, the system sets off a brief auditory signal (clicking). What makes the solution special is that the person sleeping is not conciously aware of this noise during deep sleep.
The first scientific research study
Researchers from ETH Zurich and University Hospital Zurich, led by Caroline Lustenberger, group leader at the Neural Control of Movement Lab, have performed a medical research study with this device for the very first time. The results have actually simply been released in the journal Communications Medicine.
The research study included equipping individuals, in between 60– 80 years of ages, with the SleepLoop system, which they were needed to run themselves in their own home. The system is created to operate separately even by users with little technical experience. “This worked extremely well. We had remarkably little data loss and the individuals ranked the device as user- friendly,” says Lustenberger.
They wore the gadget every night for a total of 4 weeks, with the acoustic stimulation offered on a nighttime basis for 2 weeks and no stimulation for the next two weeks. Neither the topics nor the scientists knew in which 2 weeks the auditory signals were played and in which 2 they were not.
Auditory stimulation is certainly feasible
The results of 16 individuals of the study reveal that it was undoubtedly possible to enhance the slow waves through auditory signals throughout deep sleep in most individuals. Nevertheless, the private differences were comprehensive with some of the topics reacting effectively to the stimuli, while others reacted minimally or not at all.
According to Lustenberger, the concern of whether a person reacted to a stimulus did not depend upon their well- being throughout the day. “Some people generally reacted well to the stimuli and clearly showed improved slow waves, while others showed no response, despite their everyday well- being.”.
The researchers have actually used these private distinctions to better anticipate how a given individual will react to the acoustic stimulus. This in turn helps them to improve the efficiency and optimise of SleepLoop.
On track for market launch.
A spin- off business Tosoo AG, is presently working on developing the device even more and preparing it for the scientific market. It is currently clear that it will not be freely offered, but just via a physicians prescription.
” This is a medical device, not simply a wellness customer product you can buy online when you have problem sleeping,” stresses Walter Karlen, who developed the technology at ETH Zurich. 1 Karlen has been appointed Director of the Institute of Biomedical Engineering at Ulm University in May 2021. “Use of the device must be clinically shown and monitored by a physician”, he states. More advancement of the innovation will now continue likewise in Ulm.
Reference: “Auditory deep sleep stimulation in older adults in the house: a randomized crossover trial” by Caroline Lustenberger, M. Laura Ferster, Stephanie Huwiler, Luzius Brogli, Esther Werth, Reto Huber and Walter Karlen, 4 April 2022, Communications Medicine.DOI: 10.1038/ s43856-022-00096-6.