The Benefits of Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Subjective Sleep Quality
by
Charles S. H. Robinson 1,2, Natalie B. Bryant 1, Joshua W. Maxwell 1
, Aaron P. Jones 1, Bradley Robert 1, Melanie Lamphere 1, Angela Combs 1, Hussein M. Al Azzawi 1, Benjamin C. Gibson 1, Joseph L. Sanguinetti 1, Nicholas A. Ketz 3, Praveen K. Pilly 3,* and Vincent P. Clark 1,2,*
Charles S. H. Robinson 1,2, Natalie B. Bryant 1, Joshua W. Maxwell 1, Aaron P. Jones 1, Bradley Robert 1, Melanie Lamphere 1, Angela Combs 1, Hussein M. Al Azzawi 1, Benjamin C. Gibson 1, Joseph L. Sanguinetti 1, Nicholas A. Ketz 3, Praveen K. Pilly 3,* and Vincent P. Clark 1,2,*
1
Psychology Clinical Neuroscience Center, Department of Psychology, Logan Hall, MSC03-2220, 1 University of New Mexico, Albuquerque, NM 87131-0001, USA
2
The Mind Research Network and LBERI, 1101 Yale Blvd. NE, Albuquerque, NM 87106, USA
3
Center for Human-Machine Collaboration, Information and Systems Sciences Laboratory, HRL Laboratories, 3011 Malibu Canyon Road, Malibu, CA 90265, USA
*
Authors to whom correspondence should be addressed.
Brain Sci. 2018, 8(12), 204; https://doi.org/10.3390/brainsci8120204
Received: 30 September 2018 / Revised: 15 November 2018 / Accepted: 20 November 2018 / Published: 22 November 2018
Background: Poor sleep quality is a common complaint, affecting over one third of people in the United States. While sleep quality is thought to be related to slow-wave sleep (SWS), there has been little investigation to address whether modulating slow-wave oscillations (SWOs) that characterize SWS could impact sleep quality. Here we examined whether closed-loop transcranial alternating current stimulation (CL-tACS) applied during sleep impacts sleep quality and efficiency. Methods: CL-tACS was used in 21 participants delivered at the same frequency and in phase with endogenous SWOs during sleep. Sleep quality was assessed in the morning following either verum or sham control stimulation during sleep, with order counterbalanced within participants. Results: Higher sleep quality and efficiency were found after verum stimulation nights compared to control. The largest effects on sleep quality were found immediately following an adaptation night in the laboratory for which sleep quality was reduced. Conclusions: Applying CL-tACS at the same frequency and phase as endogenous SWOs may offer a novel method to improve subjective sleep quality after a night with poor quality sleep. CL-tACS might be helpful for increasing sleep quality and efficiency in otherwise healthy people, and in patients with clinical disorders that involve sleep deficits.
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Keywords:
Karolinska Sleep Diary; tACS; closed-loop; slow-wave sleep; sleep efficiency; electroencephalogram
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MDPI and ACS Style
Robinson, C.S.H.; Bryant, N.B.; Maxwell, J.W.; Jones, A.P.; Robert, B.; Lamphere, M.; Combs, A.; Al Azzawi, H.M.; Gibson, B.C.; Sanguinetti, J.L.; Ketz, N.A.; Pilly, P.K.; Clark, V.P. The Benefits of Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Subjective Sleep Quality. Brain Sci. 2018, 8, 204.
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