Research

In PLAS (a form of non-invasive brain stimulation), soft sounds are presented in-phase with the peaks of electroencephalographic slow waves found during the deepest sleep stage, slow wave sleep (SWS). This induces further slow wave activity, which is a cornerstone of the many important recuperative functions during SWS. Memory gets strengthened, and metabolic waste products (like amyloid beta, a hallmark of Alzheimer’s disease) get cleared from the brain during this sleep stage. We hypothesize that enhancing slow wave activity through PLAS should reinforce these important functions.

PSG uses physiological measurements of brain-, heart-, muscle-, and breathing activity, as well as blood-oxygen saturation to determine how healthy sleeping patterns are.

Our main analytical approaches are based on measurements of electrical brain activity from high density EEG. For instance, we use time-frequency analysis, phase-amplitude coupling, topographic analysis, and brain-age estimation based on EEG measures to investigate the impact of PLAS on brain physiology.

Through our collaboration partner at Amsterdam UMC, we analyze blood-based biomarkers of neurodegeneration, like amyloid beta 42/40, and how they may respond to non-invasive brain stimulation interventions.