Sounds Locked to ElectroEncephalogram Phase For the Acceleration of Sleep Onset Time

Elemind Technologies, Inc.200 enrolled

Overview

This study seeks to test whether auditory stimulation delivered at specific phases of the alpha oscillation (as measured by electroencephalogram) can accelerate sleep onset.

In healthy sleepers, cortical alpha oscillations are present during the transition from wakefulness to sleep, and dissipate at sleep onset. For individuals with insomnia, alpha power is elevated during the wake-sleep transition and can persist throughout the night. This study tests whether a wearable device that delivers auditory stimulation phase-locked to alpha oscillations can accelerate sleep onset in healthy adults who report difficulties falling and staying asleep. The device is a prototype of the Elemind Neuromodulation system (ENMod). The ENMod is a wireless headband that measures brain signals, computes the phase of neural oscillations in specific frequency bands, and delivers audible pink noise pulses at specific times relative to the instantaneous phase of neural oscillations. In this study, we ask participants to wear the ENMod headband at home while going to sleep. The device is programmed to record EEG activity and, during the transition from wakefulness to sleep, deliver phase-locked sounds that are intended to interact with the participants neural activity and accelerate sleep onset.

Study Type

INTERVENTIONAL

Allocation

RANDOMIZED

Purpose

TREATMENT

Masking

DOUBLE

Enrollment

200

Conditions

Sleep Sleep Disturbance

Interventions

Elemind Neuromodulation (ENMod)DEVICE

The ENMod is a headband that measures electroencephalogram (EEG) activity, computes the phase of neural oscillations in real-time, and delivers auditory pulses intended to interact with ongoing neural oscillations.

Eligibility

Sex: ALLMin age: 21 YearsMax age: 55 YearsHealthy volunteers:

Medical Language ↔ Plain English

Inclusion Criteria: * Able to provide informed consent after reading and answering questions in written English * Self-report that it takes 30 minutes on average or more to fall asleep * Subthreshold to Moderately severe Clinical insomnia symptoms (ISI \< 21) * Subthreshold to Moderately severe Clinical insomnia (PSQI \> 6) * Minimal risk for severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 \< 15) * Minimal risk for severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 \< 15) * Individuals that are not actively being treated for anxiety, insomnia, ADHD or other psychological disorders with medications * Self-report of difficulty staying asleep "Moderate," "Severe," or "Very Severe" * Self report of waking up in the middle of the night/early morning one or more times per week Exclusion Criteria: * Unable to read or understand English * Body Mass Index (weight/height ratio) \>33 * Self-report of being diagnosed with apnea * Current or past history of a neurological disorder or psychiatric illness * Self-report that it takes less than 30 minutes to fall asleep on average * Severe Clinical insomnia symptoms (ISI \> 21) * Good sleepers (PSQI \< 6) * High risk for severe Generalized Anxiety Disorder (GAD-7 \> 15) * Moderate to high risk for alcohol abuse disorder (AUDIT \>6) * individuals that are actively being treated for anxiety, insomnia, ADHD or other psychological disorders with medications * Consumption of more than 4 cups of Caffeinated beverages per day * Any caffeine \< 6hrs prior to each recording session (e.g. coffee, tea, caffeinated sodas etc.) * Any seizures or family history of seizures * History of migraine * History of brain related injury or unexplained loss of consciousness * Cardiac pacemaker or intracranial metal implant * Pregnant * Taking any anti-depressants, stimulants, medication for hypertension or hypotension and/or cannabis derived products * Cochlear implant in either ear * Diagnosed with hearing impairment or deafness * Works night shifts any night of the week

Locations (1)

Elemind Technologies, Inc

Cambridge, Massachusetts, United States

Outcomes

Primary Outcomes

Change in Sleep Onset Latency (SOL) from Sham Block Compared to Stimulation Block

SOL will be determined using objective EEG-based metrics (e.x. time to first observed sleep spindle) derived from recommendations set forth by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). SOL will be assessed for each study day during the sham block in which the device is worn but inactive and compared to SOL for the days in the stimulation block, in which the device is actively delivering auditory stimulation. Subjects will randomly be assigned in regards to the order of sham and stimulation blocks.

Time frame: At the completion of the study (14 days), including at least 4 days in each block.

Secondary Outcomes

Change in Sleep Efficiency During Sham Block Compared to Stimulation Block

Sleep efficiency, defined as the percentage of time spent asleep out of the total time spent in bed will assessed for each study day during the sham block in which the device is worn but inactive and compared to the sleep efficiency for each day in the stimulation block, in which the device is actively delivering auditory stimulation. Subjects will randomly be assigned in regards to the order of sham and stimulation blocks.

Time frame: At the completion of the study (14 days), including at least 4 days in each block.

Sleep Onset Latency After Wake After Sleep Onset Events (WASO) During Sham Stimulation Sessions Compared to Active Stimulation Sessions

Sleep onset latency will be measured after middle-of-night wake up events using EEG-based metrics according to guidelines set forth by the American Academy of Sleep Medicine (AASM). Stimulation condition (sham or active) will be randomized for each WASO event (including events within a single night as well as across all nights). At the completion of the study, SOL will be compared for WASO events in which sham stimulation was delivered compared to WASO events in which active stimulation was delivered.

Time frame: At the completion of the study (7-14 days).

Change in Subjective Sleep Onset Latency (SOL) from Sham Block Compared to Stimulation Block

Data from ClinicalTrials.gov

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