Improvements in Heart Rate Variability, Baroreflex Sensitivity, and Sleep After Use of Closed-Loop Allostatic Neurotechnology by a Heterogeneous Cohort
Author
Shaltout, Hossam A.Lee, Sung W.
Tegeler, Catherine L.
Hirsch, Joshua R.
Simpson, Sean L.
Gerdes, Lee
Tegeler, Charles H.
Affiliation
Univ Arizona, Sch MedIssue Date
2018-04-25Keywords
neurotechnologyallostasis
heart rate variability
acoustic stimulation
baroreflex sensitivity
closed-loop
neural oscillations
HIRREM
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FRONTIERS MEDIA SACitation
Shaltout, H. A., Lee, S. W., Tegeler, C. L., Hirsch, J. R., Simpson, S. L., Gerdes, L., & Tegeler, C. H. (2018). Improvements in heart rate variability, baroreflex sensitivity, and sleep after use of closed-loop allostatic neurotechnology by a heterogeneous cohort. Frontiers in Public Health, 6, 116, https://doi.org/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00116Journal
FRONTIERS IN PUBLIC HEALTHRights
Copyright © 2018 Shaltout, Lee, Tegeler, Hirsch, Simpson, Gerdes and Tegeler. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).Collection Information
This item from the UA Faculty Publications collection is made available by the University of Arizona with support from the University of Arizona Libraries. If you have questions, please contact us at repository@u.library.arizona.edu.Abstract
Background: Heart rate variability (HRV) is an indicator of dynamic adaptability of the autonomic nervous system. Few interventions target upstream, cerebral cortex components of the heart-brain system for autonomic management. We report changes in HRV and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), associated with use of a noninvasive, closed-loop, allostatic, computer-guided, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology. Methods: Over 5 years, 220 subjects with heterogeneous neurological, cardiovascular, and psychophysiological conditions consecutively enrolled in a naturalistic, single-arm study exploring clinical effects associated with use of the neurotechnology. Of those, 202 completed the study protocol and 160 had recordings adequate to analyze HRV and BRS. Mean age was 44.0 (SD 19.4), with 130 women. Participants received a mean of 16.1 (5.2) sessions, over 24.2 days (23.3), with 9.5 (3.8) actual intervention days. Sessions included real-time analysis of brain electrical activity and software algorithm-guided translation of selected frequencies into patterns of acoustic stimulation (audible tones of variable pitch and timing), to facilitate auto-calibration of neural oscillations. Outcomes including 10-min supine, at-rest recordings of blood pressure and heart rate, and inventories for insomnia (ISI) and depression (CES-D or BDI-II), were obtained at baseline and 15.3 (16.7) days after the last session. Results: Compared to baseline, significant increases (all p < 0.001) were observed for measures of HRV across all participants including the mean percentage change for SDNN 24.2% (SE 0.04), and RMSSD, 42.2% (0.08), and BRS [Sequence Up, 55.5% (0.09), Sequence Down, 77.6% (0.23), and Sequence All, 53.7% (0.07)]. Significant improvements were noted in SAP, MAP, and DAP, as well as natural log of HF, and total power. Self-reported ISI was reduced (ISI, -6.4 points, SD 5.6, p < 0.001). The proportion reporting clinically significant depressive symptoms reduced from 48.2% at baseline to 22.1% at follow-up. Linear regression showed that rightward asymmetry predicted lower SDNN (p = 0.02). Exploratory analysis showed a trend for improved balance of temporal lobe high-frequency amplitudes over the course of initial sessions. Conclusion: These findings indicate that use of a noninvasive, allostatic, closed-loop neurotechnology appears to have robust potential for public health efforts to support greater flexibility in autonomic cardiovascular regulation, through self-optimization of electrical activity at the level of the brain.Note
Open Access Journal.ISSN
2296-2565Version
Final published versionSponsors
Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation, Inc.; NIBIB [K25 EB012236-01A1]Additional Links
http://journal.frontiersin.org/article/10.3389/fpubh.2018.00116/fullae974a485f413a2113503eed53cd6c53
10.3389/fpubh.2018.00116
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Except where otherwise noted, this item's license is described as Copyright © 2018 Shaltout, Lee, Tegeler, Hirsch, Simpson, Gerdes and Tegeler. This is an open-access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License (CC BY).