Closed-loop auditory stimulation targeting alpha and theta oscillations during rapid eye movement sleep induces phase-dependent power and frequency changes

TY - JOUR

T1 - Closed-loop auditory stimulation targeting alpha and theta oscillations during rapid eye movement sleep induces phase-dependent power and frequency changes

AU - Jaramillo, Valeria

AU - Hebron, Henry

AU - Wong, Sara

AU - Atzori, Giuseppe

AU - Bartsch, Ullrich

AU - Dijk, Derk Jan

AU - Violante, Ines R.

N1 - Publisher Copyright: © The Author(s) 2024. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of Sleep Research Society. All rights reserved. For commercial re-use, please contact [email protected] for reprints and translation rights for reprints. All other permissions can be obtained through our RightsLink service via the Permissions link on the article page on our site—for further information please contact journals.pe

PY - 2024/12/11

Y1 - 2024/12/11

N2 - STUDY OBJECTIVES: Alpha and theta oscillations characterize the waking human electroencephalogram (EEG) and can be modulated by closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS). These oscillations also occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but their function here remains elusive. CLAS represents a promising tool to pinpoint how these brain oscillations contribute to brain function in humans. Here we investigate whether CLAS can modulate alpha and theta oscillations during REM sleep in a phase-dependent manner. METHODS: We recorded high-density EEG during an extended overnight sleep period in 18 healthy young adults. Auditory stimulation was delivered during both phasic and tonic REM sleep in alternating 6-second ON and 6-second OFF windows. During the ON windows, stimuli were phase-locked to four orthogonal phases of ongoing alpha or theta oscillations detected in a frontal electrode. RESULTS: The phases of ongoing alpha and theta oscillations were targeted with high accuracy during REM sleep. Alpha and theta CLAS induced phase-dependent changes in power and frequency at the target location. Frequency-specific effects were observed for alpha trough (speeding up) and rising (slowing down) and theta trough (speeding up) conditions. CLAS-induced phase-dependent changes were observed during both REM sleep substages, even though auditory evoked potentials were very much reduced in phasic compared to tonic REM sleep. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that faster REM sleep rhythms can be modulated by CLAS in a phase-dependent manner. This offers a new approach to investigating how modulation of REM sleep oscillations affects the contribution of this vigilance state to brain function.

AB - STUDY OBJECTIVES: Alpha and theta oscillations characterize the waking human electroencephalogram (EEG) and can be modulated by closed-loop auditory stimulation (CLAS). These oscillations also occur during rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, but their function here remains elusive. CLAS represents a promising tool to pinpoint how these brain oscillations contribute to brain function in humans. Here we investigate whether CLAS can modulate alpha and theta oscillations during REM sleep in a phase-dependent manner. METHODS: We recorded high-density EEG during an extended overnight sleep period in 18 healthy young adults. Auditory stimulation was delivered during both phasic and tonic REM sleep in alternating 6-second ON and 6-second OFF windows. During the ON windows, stimuli were phase-locked to four orthogonal phases of ongoing alpha or theta oscillations detected in a frontal electrode. RESULTS: The phases of ongoing alpha and theta oscillations were targeted with high accuracy during REM sleep. Alpha and theta CLAS induced phase-dependent changes in power and frequency at the target location. Frequency-specific effects were observed for alpha trough (speeding up) and rising (slowing down) and theta trough (speeding up) conditions. CLAS-induced phase-dependent changes were observed during both REM sleep substages, even though auditory evoked potentials were very much reduced in phasic compared to tonic REM sleep. CONCLUSIONS: This study provides evidence that faster REM sleep rhythms can be modulated by CLAS in a phase-dependent manner. This offers a new approach to investigating how modulation of REM sleep oscillations affects the contribution of this vigilance state to brain function.

KW - alpha

KW - closed-loop auditory stimulation

KW - phasic

KW - REM sleep

KW - theta

KW - tonic

UR - http://www.scopus.com/inward/record.url?scp=85206820623&partnerID=8YFLogxK

U2 - 10.1093/sleep/zsae193

DO - 10.1093/sleep/zsae193

M3 - Article

C2 - 39208441

AN - SCOPUS:85206820623

SN - 1550-9109

VL - 47

JO - Sleep

JF - Sleep

IS - 12

ER -