Machine Means End To Sleepless Nights

[Nielsio]

http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1264358,00.html

In short: a way of aiding and inducing (deep) sleep in humans, which has a number of potential usages.

[vhawk01]

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http://news.sky.com/skynews/article/0,,30000-1264358,00.html

In short: a way of aiding and inducing (deep) sleep in humans, which has a number of potential usages.

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Link doesn't work, and I was interested.

[Rastadon]

Copy the whole line though .html to your address window.

[vhawk01]

[ QUOTE ]
Copy the whole line though .html to your address window.

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Thanks, and wow was that obvious. I blame lack of sleep!

[Matt R.]

This is huge. I recently did some work on how oscillatory patterns in a region of the brain relates to consciousness. Like the article mentions, at oscillations of <20 Hz (slow wave sleep I think they called it) the individual is unconscious (like when they are asleep). Oscillations at around 40 Hz promote consciousness.

Turns out a lot of mental disorders are caused by dysrhythmias. For instance, some patients with cognitive disorders have oscillatory patterns similar to those undergoing dreamless sleep (or vice versa... some regions of the brain that are supposed to be inhibited from 40 Hz oscillations are in fact, not... leading to hallucinations for instance). If scientists can figure out a way to control these electrical frequencies, I think it could have some huge benefits (not just for sleep).