Title: Brainwave entrainment through external sensory stimulus: a therapy for insomnia

Authors: E. Karuppathal; R. Kalpana; A.V. Srinivasan

Addresses: Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, India ' Department of Biomedical Engineering, Rajalakshmi Engineering College, India ' The Tamil Nadu Dr. M.G.R. Medical University, India

Abstract: In this work audio, visual and haptic stimuli are used to improve overall sleep quality for insomnia. Audio signals at different frequencies are given to two ears and visual input to two eyes with eye-mask to prevent external light. Automated system is developed to give pressure at HT-7 with time and pressure control. It is self-administered and brain signals are acquired before and after therapy. Subjects who are not into insomnia (CONTROLs) are studied for sleep pattern to make baseline comparison. Delta power increases by 10% after the therapy in test group, becoming at par with CONTROLs. The statistical measure Cohen's d value indicates insomnia subjects who are not into oral medicine shows better response, in the sense their rhythmic changes became almost similar to that of CONTROLs with marked increase in REM state duration. Thus, this being a drug-free therapy could be useful to treat insomnia soon after diagnosis.

Keywords: acupressure; insomnia; power spectrum; Cohen's d value.

DOI: 10.1504/IJMEI.2021.115962

International Journal of Medical Engineering and Informatics, 2021 Vol.13 No.4, pp.323 - 333

Received: 01 Mar 2019
Accepted: 04 Sep 2019
Published online: 06 Jul 2021 *

Full-text access for editors Full-text access for subscribers Purchase this article Comment on this article