Kompotis K, Hubbard J, Emmenegger Y, Perrault A, Mühlethaler M, Schwartz S, Bayer L, Franken P.
Rocking Promotes Sleep in Mice through Rhythmic Stimulation of the Vestibular System.
Curr Biol. 2019 Jan 15;
PubMed.
I found both of these papers fascinating. It is convincing that rocking in the young adult humans assessed increased NREM sleep, particularly stage 3, which is where the most slow-wave activity occurs. It also increased slow-wave oscillations and fast spindles, which coincided with improved memory. Given the beneficial effect of slow-wave sleep on memory, the fact that we all have less and less slow-wave sleep with normal aging, and the likely beneficial effects of slow-wave sleep on decreasing proteins linked to AD pathogenesis, it would be really interesting to see the effect of rocking on NREM sleep and similar parameters measured here in middle-aged and elderly people. If it has effects there, this is something practical that should potentially be further explored more broadly as a potential treatment. The paper in mice nicely shows the effect of rocking/moving on sleep is via the vestibular system. Very cool.
Comments
Washington University
I found both of these papers fascinating. It is convincing that rocking in the young adult humans assessed increased NREM sleep, particularly stage 3, which is where the most slow-wave activity occurs. It also increased slow-wave oscillations and fast spindles, which coincided with improved memory. Given the beneficial effect of slow-wave sleep on memory, the fact that we all have less and less slow-wave sleep with normal aging, and the likely beneficial effects of slow-wave sleep on decreasing proteins linked to AD pathogenesis, it would be really interesting to see the effect of rocking on NREM sleep and similar parameters measured here in middle-aged and elderly people. If it has effects there, this is something practical that should potentially be further explored more broadly as a potential treatment. The paper in mice nicely shows the effect of rocking/moving on sleep is via the vestibular system. Very cool.
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