A new study conducted by researchers from the University of Surrey and the UK Dementia Research Institute Center for Care Research & Technology at Imperial College London has shown that using sound stimulation to target alpha rhythms in the brain has the potential to help individuals with dementia or cognitive decline sleep better. Sleep disturbances are common in people with dementia, affecting up to half of those living with the condition. Alpha rhythms are associated with memory and perception, and changes in these rhythms have been observed in individuals with cognitive decline and dementia. This study aimed to investigate how the brain responds to sound stimulation targeted at specific timings of the alpha waves.
Senior author Dr. Ines Violante, a Senior Lecturer in Psychological Neuroscience at the University of Surrey, highlighted the importance of understanding the role of alpha oscillations in shaping fundamental brain functions. Sound has been identified as a non-invasive approach to stimulate brain oscillations, and manipulating these oscillations could potentially lead to treatment applications for conditions such as Alzheimer’s disease. The study utilized a brain modulation technique called Alpha Closed-Loop Auditory Stimulation (aCLAS), where sounds were timed according to the phase of alpha rhythms, and the effects of stimulation were monitored through real-time measurements of brain activity.
The researchers observed that the alpha rhythm could be manipulated by sound based on the phase at which the sound was played, as well as the location of the alpha oscillations in the brain. Dr. Henry Hebron, the first author of the publication and a former doctoral student at the University of Surrey, explained the findings of the study. The researchers discovered that sounds played at particular phases of the alpha rhythm affected participants’ ability to reach deeper stages of sleep, without waking them. This suggests that manipulating alpha oscillations through sound could have a significant impact on sleep patterns, potentially benefiting individuals with dementia or cognitive decline.
Moving forward, the researchers plan to explore how they can modify alpha waves to enhance cognition and sleep, with the ultimate goal of improving outcomes for dementia patients. Professor Derk-Jan Dijk, Director of the Surrey Sleep Research Centre and Group Leader at the UK Dementia Research Institute Center for Care Research & Technology, emphasized the importance of understanding the role of alpha rhythm in sleep and cognition. The team is now investigating the effects of closed-loop auditory stimulation on REM sleep, where alpha rhythms are present but their function is not yet fully understood.
This research aligns with the United Nations’ Sustainable Development Goal 3 of promoting good health and well-being. By demonstrating the ability to influence alpha waves with sound, the study opens up new possibilities for using closed-loop auditory stimulation to improve sleep functions in individuals with dementia. Further exploration of the relationship between neural oscillations and behavior could lead to innovative approaches in treating sleep disorders and cognitive decline._DYNAMIC.
