Auditory closed-loop stimulation of EEG slow oscillations strengthens sleep and signs of its immune-supportive function

Luciana Besedovsky; Hong Viet V. Ngo; Stoyan Dimitrov; Christoph Gassenmaier; Rainer Lehmann; Jan Born

doi:10.1038/s41467-017-02170-3

Auditory closed-loop stimulation of EEG slow oscillations strengthens sleep and signs of its immune-supportive function

Luciana Besedovsky, Hong Viet V. Ngo, Stoyan Dimitrov, Christoph Gassenmaier, Rainer Lehmann, Jan Born^*

^*Corresponding author for this work

University of Tubingen

110 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Sleep is essential for health. Slow wave sleep (SWS), the deepest sleep stage hallmarked by electroencephalographic slow oscillations (SOs), appears of particular relevance here. SWS is associated with a unique endocrine milieu comprising minimum cortisol and high aldosterone, growth hormone (GH), and prolactin levels, thereby presumably fostering efficient adaptive immune responses. Yet, whether SWS causes these changes is unclear. Here we enhance SOs in men by auditory closed-loop stimulation, i.e., by delivering tones in synchrony with endogenous SOs. Stimulation intensifies the hormonal milieu characterizing SWS (mainly by further reducing cortisol and increasing aldosterone levels) and reduces T and B cell counts, likely reflecting a redistribution of these cells to lymphoid tissues. GH remains unchanged. In conclusion, closed-loop stimulation of SOs is an easy-to-use tool for probing SWS functions, and might also bear the potential to ameliorate conditions like depression and aging, where disturbed sleep coalesces with specific hormonal and immunological dysregulations.

Original language	English
Article number	1984
Journal	Nature Communications
Volume	8
Issue number	1
ISSN	1751-8628
DOIs	https://doi.org/10.1038/s41467-017-02170-3
Publication status	Published - 01.12.2017

Funding

We are grateful to Ilja Goldins and Samuel Büttner for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TR-SFB 654) and from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the German Center for Diabetes Research (01GI0925).

Research Areas and Centers

Academic Focus: Center for Brain, Behavior and Metabolism (CBBM)

DFG Research Classification Scheme

2.22-17 Endocrinology, Diabetology, Metabolism

UN SDGs

This output contributes to the following UN Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)

Access to Document

10.1038/s41467-017-02170-3

Cite this

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title = "Auditory closed-loop stimulation of EEG slow oscillations strengthens sleep and signs of its immune-supportive function",

abstract = "Sleep is essential for health. Slow wave sleep (SWS), the deepest sleep stage hallmarked by electroencephalographic slow oscillations (SOs), appears of particular relevance here. SWS is associated with a unique endocrine milieu comprising minimum cortisol and high aldosterone, growth hormone (GH), and prolactin levels, thereby presumably fostering efficient adaptive immune responses. Yet, whether SWS causes these changes is unclear. Here we enhance SOs in men by auditory closed-loop stimulation, i.e., by delivering tones in synchrony with endogenous SOs. Stimulation intensifies the hormonal milieu characterizing SWS (mainly by further reducing cortisol and increasing aldosterone levels) and reduces T and B cell counts, likely reflecting a redistribution of these cells to lymphoid tissues. GH remains unchanged. In conclusion, closed-loop stimulation of SOs is an easy-to-use tool for probing SWS functions, and might also bear the potential to ameliorate conditions like depression and aging, where disturbed sleep coalesces with specific hormonal and immunological dysregulations.",

author = "Luciana Besedovsky and Ngo, \{Hong Viet V.\} and Stoyan Dimitrov and Christoph Gassenmaier and Rainer Lehmann and Jan Born",

note = "Funding Information: We are grateful to Ilja Goldins and Samuel B{\"u}ttner for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TR-SFB 654) and from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the German Center for Diabetes Research (01GI0925). Publisher Copyright: {\textcopyright} 2017 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.",

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AU - Dimitrov, Stoyan

AU - Gassenmaier, Christoph

AU - Lehmann, Rainer

AU - Born, Jan

N1 - Funding Information: We are grateful to Ilja Goldins and Samuel Büttner for technical assistance. This work was supported by grants from the Deutsche Forschungsgemeinschaft (TR-SFB 654) and from the German Federal Ministry of Education and Research to the German Center for Diabetes Research (01GI0925). Publisher Copyright: © 2017 The Author(s). Copyright: Copyright 2020 Elsevier B.V., All rights reserved.

PY - 2017/12/1

Y1 - 2017/12/1

N2 - Sleep is essential for health. Slow wave sleep (SWS), the deepest sleep stage hallmarked by electroencephalographic slow oscillations (SOs), appears of particular relevance here. SWS is associated with a unique endocrine milieu comprising minimum cortisol and high aldosterone, growth hormone (GH), and prolactin levels, thereby presumably fostering efficient adaptive immune responses. Yet, whether SWS causes these changes is unclear. Here we enhance SOs in men by auditory closed-loop stimulation, i.e., by delivering tones in synchrony with endogenous SOs. Stimulation intensifies the hormonal milieu characterizing SWS (mainly by further reducing cortisol and increasing aldosterone levels) and reduces T and B cell counts, likely reflecting a redistribution of these cells to lymphoid tissues. GH remains unchanged. In conclusion, closed-loop stimulation of SOs is an easy-to-use tool for probing SWS functions, and might also bear the potential to ameliorate conditions like depression and aging, where disturbed sleep coalesces with specific hormonal and immunological dysregulations.

AB - Sleep is essential for health. Slow wave sleep (SWS), the deepest sleep stage hallmarked by electroencephalographic slow oscillations (SOs), appears of particular relevance here. SWS is associated with a unique endocrine milieu comprising minimum cortisol and high aldosterone, growth hormone (GH), and prolactin levels, thereby presumably fostering efficient adaptive immune responses. Yet, whether SWS causes these changes is unclear. Here we enhance SOs in men by auditory closed-loop stimulation, i.e., by delivering tones in synchrony with endogenous SOs. Stimulation intensifies the hormonal milieu characterizing SWS (mainly by further reducing cortisol and increasing aldosterone levels) and reduces T and B cell counts, likely reflecting a redistribution of these cells to lymphoid tissues. GH remains unchanged. In conclusion, closed-loop stimulation of SOs is an easy-to-use tool for probing SWS functions, and might also bear the potential to ameliorate conditions like depression and aging, where disturbed sleep coalesces with specific hormonal and immunological dysregulations.

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Auditory closed-loop stimulation of EEG slow oscillations strengthens sleep and signs of its immune-supportive function

Abstract

Funding

Research Areas and Centers

DFG Research Classification Scheme

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

CRC 654: Plasticity and Sleep

Cite this

Auditory closed-loop stimulation of EEG slow oscillations strengthens sleep and signs of its immune-supportive function

Abstract

Funding

Research Areas and Centers

DFG Research Classification Scheme

UN SDGs

Access to Document

Other files and links

Fingerprint

Projects

CRC 654: Plasticity and Sleep

Cite this