The University of Surrey’s research team found that using sound to stimulate specific brain waves could potentially improve the quality of sleep for individuals with dementia or cognitive decline. Sleep problems are common among those with dementia, affecting as many as half of those living with the condition.Surrey and the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology at Imperial College London, conducted a study using sound stimulation to target alpha rhythms, a type of brainwave, at specific timings to investigate the brain’s response.
Alpha rhythms are linked to memory and perception, and changes in these rhythms have been observed in people experiencing cognitive decline and dementia.
Dr. Ines Violante, a Senior Lecturer in Psychological Neuroscience at the University of Surrey and the senior author of the study, stated:
“Alpha oscillations are a key feature of our brain’s electrical activity, but there is still a lot we don’t understand about them.”Scientists don’t fully grasp their role in shaping fundamental brain functions.”Using sound is a powerful, non-invasive approach to stimulate certain oscillations within the brain. It is important that we find ways of manipulating these oscillations to create tools for treatment applications, as we know that brain oscillations are slower in diseases, such as Alzheimer’s disease.”In a series of experiments, researchers used an innovative brain modulation technique known as Alpha Closed-Loop Auditory Stimulation (aCLAS), in which sounds are timed to the precise phase of alpha rhythms. To monitor the effect of stimulation, measurements ofthe brain’s electrical activity is monitored in real-time. When a specific brainwave phase is reached, a burst of pink noise is played for the participant. The researchers noticed that the alpha rhythm’s speed could be influenced by the timing of the sound, and this effect was also impacted by the origin of the alpha oscillations in the brain. Dr. Henry Hebron, formerly of the University of Surrey and the lead author of the study, stated that their findings highlight how sound can affect alpha oscillations.We are examining this rhythm according to its own terms, using a closed-loop method. To our surprise, when we conducted our aCLAS experiment while participants were drifting off to sleep, we noticed that sounds at a specific phase prevented them from reaching deeper sleep stages (without waking them up), while the same sounds at a different phase did not cause disruption.
“There is much more to be discovered about behaviors dependent on neural oscillations, and we believe that closed-loop approaches, like the one we used here, could be crucial.”
Researchers have demonstrated their ability to influence Alpha waves with sound, and the next step is now.The goal is to determine if altering brain waves can improve cognition and sleep, potentially benefiting dementia patients. Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, Director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre and Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute Centre for Care Research & Technology Centre, explained that there is still much to learn about the alpha rhythm’s role in sleep and cognition. This new technique could significantly advance our understanding and help improve sleep in people with dementia. Ongoing research is now focused on the impact of this closed-loop auditory stimulation method on REM sleep.The article discusses the presence of alpha rhythms, whose role is still not fully understood. The research also contributes to the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3, which focuses on promoting good health and well-being.
