035 Activating the concept of “relaxation” during sleep using relaxation-related words

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A15-A16
Author(s):  
Jonas Beck ◽  
Erna Loretz ◽  
Björn Rasch
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Sleep Cycle ◽  
Relaxation Techniques ◽  
Semantic Meaning ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Sleep Depth ◽  
Sleep Physiology

Abstract Introduction Cognitive processes (e.g., rumination, perception of an unfamiliar sleeping environment, relaxation techniques) alter our sleep, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. Theories of embodied or grounded cognition assume that semantic meaning is stored in multimodal neuronal networks. We therefore assume that cognitive concepts are closely linked to related bodily functions. We propose that mental processes are active to a greater or lesser extent during sleep and that this degree of activation affects our sleep depth. Methods We examined this notion by activating the concept of “relaxation” during sleep using relaxation-related words in 50 healthy participants. After an adaption night, subjects slept in the sleep laboratory for two experimental nights according to a within-subject cross-over design. During one experimental night, relaxing words (e.g., “sea”, “relax”) were presented to promote sleep depth. During the other experimental night, control words were presented (e.g., “produce”, “materials”). As the amount of SWS peaks within the first sleep cycle, words were presented during NREM sleep starting with the second sleep cycle (at the latest 120 min after sleep onset). In addition, a mood and a subjective sleep quality questionnaire was conducted. Results In support of our hypothesis, playing relaxing words during non-rapid eye movement sleep extended the time spent in slow-wave sleep during the period, when words were presented. Furthermore, power in the slow-wave activity band was increased several seconds after the cue for relaxing compared with control words. The increased sleep depth by means of relaxing words was accompanied by a reduced interhemispheric asymmetry of SWA and slow-wave density in the during-cueing period. The changes observed in objective sleep translated to the subjective level with an increase in subjective sleep quality and alertness ratings. Conclusion The present study showed that the semantic meaning of words presented during NREM sleep is capable of affecting sleep physiology, SWS maintenance and the subjective evaluation of sleep quality. Our results support the notion that the activation of mental concepts during sleep can influence sleep depth and provide a basis for interventions using targeted activations to promote sleep depth and sleep quality to foster well-being and health. Support (if any):

scholarly journals Exposure to relaxing words during sleep promotes slow-wave sleep and subjective sleep quality

2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Beck ◽  
Erna Loretz ◽  
Björn Rasch
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Depth ◽  
Activity Band ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Healthy Participants ◽  
Subjective Level

AbstractOur thoughts alter our sleep, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We propose that mental processes are active to a greater or lesser extent during sleep and that this degree of activation affects our sleep depth. We examined this notion by activating the concept of “relaxation” during sleep using relaxation-related words in 50 healthy participants. In support of our hypothesis, playing relaxing words during non-rapid eye movement sleep extended the time spent in slow-wave sleep, increased power in the slow-wave activity band after the word cue, and abolished an asymmetrical sleep depth during the word presentation period. On the subjective level, participants reported a higher sleep quality and elevated alertness ratings. Our results support the notion that the activation of mental concepts during sleep can influence sleep depth and provide a basis for interventions using targeted activations to promote sleep depth and sleep quality to foster well-being and health.

scholarly journals 0337 Effects of Slow Wave Sleep Augmentation on Subjective Sleep Quality

SLEEP ◽  
2018 ◽  
Vol 41 (suppl_1) ◽  
pp. A129-A129
Author(s):  
M L Lamphere ◽  
C S Robinson ◽  
N B Bryant ◽  
A P Jones ◽  
B Robert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep

scholarly journals The Benefits of Closed-Loop Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation on Subjective Sleep Quality

2018 ◽  
Vol 8 (12) ◽  
pp. 204 ◽  
Author(s):  
Charles Robinson ◽  
Natalie Bryant ◽  
Joshua Maxwell ◽  
Aaron Jones ◽  
Bradley Robert ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Closed Loop ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
The United States ◽  
Alternating Current ◽  
Poor Sleep ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation

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.

scholarly journals Exposure to relaxing words during sleep promotes slow-wave sleep and subjective sleep quality

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
Jonas Beck ◽  
Erna Loretz ◽  
Björn Rasch
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Slow Wave ◽  
Slow Wave Sleep ◽  
Well Being ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Sleep Depth ◽  
Activity Band ◽  
Underlying Mechanisms ◽  
Subjective Alertness ◽  
Healthy Participants

Abstract Our thoughts alter our sleep, but the underlying mechanisms are still unknown. We propose that mental processes are active to a greater or lesser extent during sleep and that this degree of activation affects our sleep depth. We examined this notion by activating the concept of “relaxation” during sleep using relaxation-related words in 50 healthy participants. In support of our hypothesis, playing relaxing words during non-rapid eye movement sleep extended the time spent in slow-wave sleep, increased power in the slow-wave activity band after the word cue, and abolished an asymmetrical sleep depth during the word presentation period. In addition, participants reported a higher sleep quality and elevated subjective alertness. Our results support the notion that the activation of mental concepts during sleep can influence sleep depth. They provide a basis for interventions using targeted activations to promote sleep depth and sleep quality to foster well-being and health.

076 Bright light during wakefulness improves objective and subjective sleep quality: a forced desynchrony study

SLEEP ◽  
2021 ◽  
Vol 44 (Supplement_2) ◽  
pp. A32-A32
Author(s):  
Renske Lok ◽  
Tom Woelders ◽  
Marijke Gordijn ◽  
Minke van Koningsveld ◽  
Klaske Oberman ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Light Exposure ◽  
Circadian Variation ◽  
Bright Light ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Delta Power ◽  
Dim Light ◽  
Time Awake

Abstract Introduction Under real life conditions, increased light exposure during wakefulness seems associated with improved sleep quality, quantified as reduced time awake during bed time, increased time spent in non-REM (NREM) sleep or increased power in the EEG delta band (0.5–4 Hz). The causality of these important relationships and their dependency on circadian clock phase and/or time awake has not been studied in depth. To establish causality of light effects during wake time on subsequent sleep, and to disentangle possible circadian and homeostatic interactions, we employed a forced desynchrony (FD) protocol under dim light (6.5 lux) and bright light (1307 lux) during wakefulness. Methods The protocol consisted of a fast cycling sleep-wake schedule (13h wakefulness – 5h sleep; 4 cycles), followed by 3h recovery sleep in a within subject cross-over design. Individuals (7 men) were equipped with 10 polysomnography electrodes. Subjective sleep quality was measured immediately after wakening. Results Results indicated that circadian variation in delta power was only detected under dim light. Circadian variation in time in rapid eye movement (REM) sleep and wakefulness were uninfluenced by light. Prior light exposure increased accumulation of delta power and time in NREM sleep, while decreasing wakefulness, especially during the circadian wake phase. Subjective sleep quality scores showed that participants were only able to assess light induced improvement of sleep quality correctly when the circadian system promoted wakefulness. Conclusion This study presents significant effects of bright light exposure on sleep architecture, leading to sleep pressure related changes in objective sleep quality. At the end of the scheduled sleep phase after increased light exposure, more delta power and NREM sleep were detected, especially when sleep occurred outside the normal sleep phase. Subjective sleep quality scores showed light-induced improvements coinciding with increased delta power and time spend in NREM sleep, suggesting that light during wakefulness may improve subsequent sleep quality. These findings may have important implications for insomnia treatment and clinical applications of light therapy. Support (if any) This research was funded by the University of Groningen Campus Fryslân (Grant No. 01110939; co-financed by Philips Drachten and Provincie Fryslân). Additional financial support was obtained from a NWO-STW Program Grant “OnTime” (project 12185).

scholarly journals 0818 Cyclic Alternating Pattern as Indicator for Subjective Sleep Quality in Community-Dwelling Older Men

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Vol 43 (Supplement_1) ◽  
pp. A312-A312
Author(s):  
S Hartmann ◽  
M Baumert
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Nrem Sleep ◽  
Older Men ◽  
Quality Parameters ◽  
Community Dwelling ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Cap Rate ◽  
The Relationship

Abstract Introduction The micro-architecture of NREM sleep displays a cyclic alternating pattern (CAP) comprising activation phases of slow high-amplitude waves (A1), fast low-amplitude brain activity rhythms (A3) or a mixture of both (A2). In this study, we investigated the relationship between CAP and subjective sleep quality parameters reported by community-dwelling older men from the Osteoporotic Fractures in Men Sleep Study. Methods CAP was scored in 2,811 overnight EEG recordings using a high performance automated CAP detection system. We quantified the ratio between CAP time and NREM sleep time (CAP rate), the number of A1-phases per hour of NREM sleep (A1 index), and the number of A2+A3-phases per hour of NREM sleep (A2+A3 index). Also, participants were asked to score the quality of their sleep on a Likert scale with five items from light to deep, from short to long, and from restless to restful. The relationship between CAP parameters and the subjective sleep quality measures was determined using ANCOVA with traditional sleep disturbance indices such as obstructive apnea-hypopnea index and arousal index as covariate. Results CAP rate decreased significantly with increasing quality of sleep for all three subjective measures (light vs. deep: 58.8±22.3% vs. 54.6±20.5%, p < 0.001; short vs. long: 58.4±21.4% vs. 55.1±20.5%, p < 0.001, restless vs. restful: 59.4±20.8% vs. 55.6±21.0%, p = 0.002). The A1 index did not show any significant variations across all three sleep quality parameters. The A2+A3 index behaved similarly to the CAP rate with decreasing values for each subjective measure (all: p < 0.001). Conclusion CAP rate, especially A2+A3-phases, are reduced in older men who report good sleep quality, while A1 index did not show any significant relationship with subjective sleep quality measures. Hence, CAP is an indicator of sleep quality. Support The National Heart, Lung, and Blood Institute (NHLBI) provides funding for the MrOS Sleep ancillary study “Outcomes of Sleep Disorders in Older Men” under the following grant numbers: R01 HL071194, R01 HL070848, R01 HL070847, R01 HL070842, R01 HL070841, R01 HL070837, R01 HL070838, and R01 HL070839.

scholarly journals Autonomic dysregulation and sleep homeostasis in insomnia

SLEEP ◽  
2020 ◽  
Author(s):  
Daniela Grimaldi ◽  
Kathryn J Reid ◽  
Nelly A Papalambros ◽  
Rosemary I Braun ◽  
Roneil G Malkani ◽  
...  
Keyword(s):  
Older Adults ◽  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Underlying Mechanism ◽  
Sleep Cycle ◽  
Activity Levels ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Adverse Health Outcomes ◽  
Mechanistic Pathway ◽  
Age Related

Abstract Study objectives Insomnia is common in older adults, and is associated with poor health, including cognitive impairment and cardio-metabolic disease. Although the mechanisms linking insomnia with these comorbidities remain unclear, age-related changes in sleep and autonomic nervous system (ANS) regulation might represent a shared mechanistic pathway. In this study, we assessed the relationship between ANS activity with indices of objective and subjective sleep quality in older adults with insomnia. Methods Forty-three adults with chronic insomnia, and 16 age-matched healthy sleeper controls were studied. Subjective sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI), objective sleep quality by electroencephalogram spectral components derived from polysomnography, and ANS activity by measuring 24-h plasma cortisol and norepinephrine (NE). Results Sleep cycle analysis displayed lower slow oscillatory (SO: 0.5-1.25 Hz) activity in the first cycle in insomnia compared to controls. In insomnia, 24-h cortisol levels were higher and 24-h NE levels were lower than controls. In controls, but not in insomnia, there was a significant interaction between NE level during wake and SO activity levels across the sleep cycles, such that in controls but not in insomnia, NE level during wake was positively associated with the amount of SO activity in the first cycle. In insomnia, lower 24-h NE level and SO activity in the first sleep cycle were associated with poorer subjective sleep quality. Conclusion Dysregulation of autonomic activity may be an underlying mechanism that links objective and subjective measures of sleep quality in older adults with insomnia, and potentially contribute to adverse health outcomes.

scholarly journals Subjective sleep quality and objective sleep physiology in migraineurs: a meta-analysis

2021 ◽  
Author(s):  
E.C. Stanyer ◽  
H. Creeney ◽  
A.D. Nesbitt ◽  
P. R. Holland ◽  
J. Hoffmann
Keyword(s):  
Sleep Quality ◽  
Meta Analysis ◽  
Empirical Studies ◽  
Sleep Onset ◽  
Lower Percentage ◽  
Sleep Onset Latency ◽  
Healthy Controls ◽  
Subjective Sleep Quality ◽  
Subjective Sleep ◽  
Sleep Physiology

AbstractObjectivesSleep disturbance is often associated with migraine. However, there is a paucity of research investigating objective and subjective measures of sleep in migraineurs. This meta-analysis aims to determine whether there are differences in subjective sleep quality measured using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) and objective sleep physiology measured using polysomnography between adult and pediatric migraineurs, and healthy controls.MethodsA systematic search of five databases was conducted to find case-controlled studies which measured polysomnography and/or PSQI in migraineurs. Effect sizes (Hedges’ g) were entered into a random effects model meta-analysis.Results32 separate studies were eligible. Overall, adult migraineurs had higher PSQI scores than healthy controls (g = 0.75, p < .001). This effect was larger in chronic than episodic migraineurs (g = 1.03, p < .001, g = 0.63, p < .001 respectively). For polysomnographic studies, adult and pediatric migraineurs displayed a lower percentage of REM sleep (g = −0.22, p = 0.017, g = −0.71, p = 0.025 respectively) than healthy controls. Pediatric migraineurs also displayed less total sleep time (g = −1.37, p = 0.039), more wake (g = 0.52, p < .001) and shorter sleep onset latency (g = −0.37, p < .001) than healthy controls.ConclusionMigraineurs have significantly poorer subjective sleep quality, and altered sleep compared to healthy individuals – a finding which is particularly evident in children. This has implications for developing appropriate treatments. Further longitudinal empirical studies are required to enhance our understanding of this relationship.

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