Summary: Researchers from the University of South Australia have developed a brain-based test using EEG technology they say may be able to diagnose excessive daytime sleepiness in just two minutes, offering a faster alternative to the traditional Multiple Wakefulness Test. By measuring brain activity and neuronal excitability, this new test has the potential to predict whether someone is too sleepy to drive or perform other attention-requiring tasks. The findings could have implications for managing sleep disorders and improving safety in high-risk environments.
Key Takeaways:
- Faster Diagnosis: The new brain-based test using EEG technology may be able to diagnose excessive daytime sleepiness in just two minutes, reducing the time needed compared to the traditional Multiple Wakefulness Test.
- Safety Applications: This test could help determine if individuals are safe to drive, operate machinery, or perform tasks that require mental focus, potentially preventing accidents.
- Implications for Sleep Disorders: Researchers say the findings could improve the management of sleep disorders like insomnia and sleep apnea by providing a better understanding of sleepiness and its effects on daily functioning.
At some point, many of us have experienced the post-lunch sleepy hour, struggling to stay alert mid-afternoon, and reaching for the water bottle to rehydrate a tired body.
But what about those people who experience “excessive daytime somnolence,” aka sleepiness that lasts throughout the day? It’s a recognized medical condition that is normally diagnosed by a doctor after a full-day hospital procedure, undergoing what is called the Multiple Wakefulness Test.
Now, researchers from the University of South Australia have identified a new, brain-based measure of sleepiness that may provide a diagnosis in just two minutes.
Electrodes attached to the scalp in the form of an electroencephalogram (EEG) measure the electrical activity of the brain, and this activity can determine the length of time it takes an individual to fall asleep.
New EEG Markers
In a separate, recent paper published in Brain Research, lead researcher, UniSA neuroscientist Alex Chatburn, PhD, says that using new EEG markers linked to biological processes could predict whether someone is safe enough to drive, operate machinery, or even have the mental capacity to sit an exam.
“Sleepiness is a critical biological signal that indicates the body’s need for sleep, yet measuring this state in humans remains elusive,” Chatburn says in a release. “While EEG technology has long been used to study brain activity during sleep, traditional markers face significant limitations and don’t tell the whole story. They don’t reflect the underlying biological processes, whereas our method tracks neuronal excitability, corresponding with the brain’s sleep-wake processes.”
Clinical Implications
Chatburn says the research has wide-ranging implications.
“A better understanding of sleepiness could not only advance scientific knowledge but also provide practical benefits for managing sleep disorders like insomnia, sleep apnea, or other disorders where individuals experience disrupted sleep but do not feel sleepy,” he says in a release. “These findings could also inform workplace safety, where detecting and managing sleepiness could prevent accidents in industries that demand high levels of attention.”
The team is presenting their findings at the Sleep DownUnder 2024 conference in the Gold Coast this week.
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