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geoff
Joined: 03 Mar 2006
Posts: 2
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 Posted: May 05 2007 Post subject: Transcranial magnetic stimulation |
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| Quote: | Sleep with the flip of a switch
THE flip of a switch could become all it takes to get a good night's sleep, according to a study released today.
Researchers at the University of Wisconsin-Madison have found a way to stimulate the slow waves typical of deep sleep by sending a harmless magnetic signal through the skulls of sleeping volunteers.
They said it could one day be used to help treat insomnia and for power naps where people would get the benefit of a full night's of sleep in just a few hours.
The experimental technique called transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) uses magnetic fields to alter brain activity.
It's non-invasive and typically involves an electromagnetic coil that is held near the head. An electric current creates a magnetic impulse or field that travels through the skull triggering small electrical currents in the brain.
In this experiment, the investigators found that with each burst of magnetism, the brains of the sleeping volunteers immediately produced the big slow waves seen in stage three and four sleep.
"With a single pulse, we were able to induce a wave that looks identical to the waves that the brain makes normally during sleep," said Giulio Tononi, professor of psychiatry at the UW-Madison School of Medicine and Public Health.
It remains to be seen whether this kind of electronically-assisted deep sleep does indeed confer benefits and whether it could enhance a person's performance and memory, Prof Tononi said.
Further studies are planned to that end.
The study was published in the April 30 edition of the Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences. |
http://www.news.com.au/adelaidenow/story/0,22606,21651213-5005962,00.html?from=public_rss |
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hvnonrth
Joined: 12 Jul 2006
Posts: 113
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| Posted: May 07 2007 Post subject: |
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OK, now this is the kind of approach that I am looking for! Any idea when something like this might be available to the rest of us insomniacs?
I have severe OSA, but lately have not had trouble falling asleep (with the help of valerian, melatonin, and l tryptophan sheeesh!) But even with all that, I don't stay asleep for more than an hour or two, then very difficult to get back to sleep. Something like this might really help me. Thanks for the post again. |
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