A recent study reveals promising findings on using sound to improve sleep quality in individuals with dementia or cognitive decline, a group often plagued by sleep disturbances. These disruptions, affecting up to half of dementia patients, prompted researchers from the University of Surrey and the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology at Imperial College London to investigate alpha rhythms, a brainwave associated with memory and perception.
The study, led by Senior Lecturer Dr Ines Violante, employed sound stimulation targeted at alpha rhythms, delivered at precise phases. This approach, known as Alpha Closed-Loop Auditory Stimulation (aCLAS), explores how the brain responds to such interventions in real-time. The team monitored participants’ brain electrical activity, synchronising sound bursts (pink noise) with specific alpha wave phases to observe varied effects on rhythm speed and brain region-specific responses.
Dr Henry Hebron, the study’s first author, highlighted the unexpected discovery that sound administered during certain alpha phases hindered deeper sleep stages without causing awakenings, contrasting with phases without disruption. This intriguing finding challenges our current understanding of sleep and cognition and opens up new avenues for research. He noted that this closed-loop method allowed for direct manipulation of alpha oscillations, suggesting potential applications in understanding neural behaviour linked to cognition and sleep.
The findings underscored the critical role of alpha rhythms in brain function, particularly in diseases like Alzheimer’s, where these rhythms are often slowed. Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, Director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre, emphasised the implications for future research, particularly in exploring how manipulating alpha waves might enhance cognitive functions and sleep quality in dementia patients. Further investigations are now focusing on applying this technique to REM sleep, where alpha rhythms are present, but their precise role still needs to be clarified.
The study signifies a significant step towards leveraging non-invasive sound-based techniques to modulate brain oscillations effectively. The potential to enhance cognitive abilities and sleep patterns holds promise for improving the quality of life for individuals with dementia. These findings pave the way for future research and the development of innovative interventions that could significantly improve the lives of dementia patients.
More information: Henry Hebron et al, A closed-loop auditory stimulation approach selectively modulates alpha oscillations and sleep onset dynamics in humans, PLoS Biology. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.3002651
Journal information: PLoS Biology Provided by University Of Surrey
