CR-SOP Neurotechnology Helps to Achieve ‘Sound’ Sleep

As is well-known but only sporadically achieved—at least for this author—a good night’s sleep is integral to health and well-being. Many research studies have demonstrated that insomnia can boost the risk of cardiovascular events, obesity, diabetes, and other illnesses. Insomnia is also associated with other poor outcomes like reduced work productivity, increased absenteeism, increased healthcare costs, and accident risk.

(I might want to rethink some of those late nights…)

A new study¹ from researchers at Wake Forest University School of Medicine has been shown to achieve sleep quality improvements and better function in the autonomic nervous system—whose dysfunction due to insomnia has been linked to the negative effects on physical health—using a closed-loop, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology.

HIRREM (high-resolution, relational, resonance-based electroencephalic mirroring—say that five times fast) is a noninvasive, closed-loop technology that leverages scalp sensors to monitor brainwaves, as well as software algorithms to translate specific frequencies into audible tones of varying pitch. The Wake Forest study used technology licensed by Cereset Research with standard operating procedures (CR-SOP), an evolution of HIRREM, in their study. Both technologies are registered trademarks of Brain State Technologies based in Scottsdale, Ariz., that were licensed to Wake Forest in 2011.

The tones produced and linked to the patient’s brainwaves are echoed back in real-time through earbuds. The brain can then “listen to itself” and look at itself in what is essentially an acoustic mirror.

“CR-SOP allows the brain to reset from stress patterns that contribute to insomnia,” said Charles H. Tegeler, M.D., chair of neurology at Wake Forest University School of Medicine. “During the intervention, the brain continuously updates with respect to its own activity patterns, resulting in auto-calibration or self-optimization.”

Wake Forest’s CR-SOP leverages an updated platform with speedier computers, new sensors and hardware, and computer management during the protocols. This means faster echoing of brainwaves occurs, shorter sessions can take place, and there’s less dependence on the expertise of the technologist.

The 22-adult study compared changes on the Insomnia Severity Index (ISI), a self-report instrument to examine insomnia symptoms. Approximately half the study participants underwent 10 sessions of CR-SOP linked to brainwaves, and the control group received 10 sessions of randomly generated auditory tones while relaxing in a zero-gravity chair. Sessions were recorded over an average of 15.3 days and researchers also recorded heart rate and blood pressure to measure autonomic cardiovascular regulation.

After the sessions were done and at follow-up visits up to six weeks following, the CR-SOP group’s subjects reported reduced insomnia symptoms. They also showed “statistically and clinically significant” autonomic function improvements in multiple measures like heart rate variability and baroflex sensitivity (blood pressure regulation) compared to the patients receiving random tones.

The science behind it: The closed-loop, recipient-unique, acoustic stimulation brain feedback—acoustic neuromodulation—helps the brain to auto-calibrate, self-adjust, relax, and move toward a more balanced state, often with the benefit of reduced hyperarousal. The treatment doesn’t need active, conscious, cognitive involvement from the participant, any operant conditioning, or training the brain to accomplish the goal.

Tegeler said the study used standard operating procedures, so all subjects received the same sequence of protocols. He said taken together, this vastly increases the approach’s scalability people might have access to more quickly.

“Closed-loop acoustic stimulation can improve sleep as well as autonomic function in those who suffer from insomnia,” Tegeler said. “This pilot study demonstrates these benefits with CR-SOP from sessions received over a short period. This is also an important step in showing the intervention’s potential scalability for treating more people.”

Ongoing clinical trials for the technology are focusing on stress and anxiety in healthcare workers and caregivers. 

Reference

1. bit.ly/mpo0323sleep