The first study is focused on determining the type of auditory stimulation that can enhance specific cognitive domains, like memory or executive function. How is TRISH hoping these studies will address these problems?ĮU: TRISH is addressing this in two parts. Sleep quality is particularly crucial for them, but astronauts rarely get the quality sleep they need.ĬK: It is concerning thinking astronauts face that many problems just trying to sleep, especially given the high-stress situations they face quite frequently in space. Astronauts’ sleep is also often interrupted by the operational needs, heavy workloads and other sudden schedule changes of their work, leading to sleeplessness and fatigue. We know astronauts’ sleep problems are caused by a multitude of conditions – including uncomfortable ambient temperatures, higher noise levels, restrictive sleeping bags, stress factors, and the absence of familiar cues like light cycles. Emmanuel Urquieta: Along with motion sickness and pain, sleeping problems round out the top three complaints among astronauts on active missions. Carla Kriwet: What are the basic kinds of sleep challenges astronauts experience in space?ĭr. Emmanuel Urquieta, scientist at the Translational Research Institute for Space Health, the funding agency for these studies.ĭr. By making this effort to understand sleep in such extreme conditions, we’ll also gain a stronger understanding of the impacts of this technology for consumers on Earth. This two-year initiative will use the headband to evaluate the effect of auditory stimulation during sleep on cognitive performance under conditions mirroring those in space.
This is particularly concerning given astronauts need peak cognitive and operational performance to effectively do their jobs.įor this reason, the Translational Research Institute for Space Health (TRISH), a virtual institute powered by the NASA Human Research Program, has taken a keen interest in improving behavioral health and cognition by optimizing sleep quality for astronauts. TRISH is funding two unprecedented sleep studies using the Philips SmartSleep Deep Sleep Headband to understand the benefits of enhanced slow wave sleep for astronauts working in extremely challenging environments. In addition to disturbances to natural circadian rhythms, astronauts are in challenging sleeping environments and operate on ever-changing schedules. People struggle getting a good night’s sleep here on Earth – imagine how difficult this must be for astronauts in space, where there is no night or day. It’s fascinating to continue to grow our understanding of the connection between tech, sleep, and cognitive performance. Sensors pinpoint when someone enters deep sleep, triggering soft audio tones at a specific timing, volume, and frequency, clinically-proven to boost slow waves. This wearable boosts a user’s slow-wave activity in real-time to enhance restorative periods of slow-wave sleep. Philips developed the SmartSleep Deep Sleep Headband to help people who do not get the recommended amount of sleep per night. Lack of sleep is a universal health problem that connected technologies can help solve. During this phase, the brain can decompress from the activity of the day, resulting in increased energy and alertness during times of wakefulness the following day. Research shows that slow-wave sleep provides the most benefits for restoring brain function – the phase of sleep that allows for memory consolidation and the managing and optimizing of all sensory data gathered during the day.
It’s well-documented that sleep is an essential part of improving personal health and, when neglected for extended periods of time, can put people at greater risk for a variety of health issues, from heart attacks to strokes. And I often think of professionals that get even less regular sleep: Doctors, nurses, pilots … and even worse: astronauts! How are they coping? And if I don’t get my 7 – 8 hours of sleep, I feel it immediately: I get grumpy, have problems to concentrate, and am not the inspiring leader I would like to be. International travel, different time zones, children waking you up at night – I am one of many in our generation struggling to get enough sleep.
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