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The effect of TENS on sleep: A pilot study
Lu Zhou1, Yixuan Xu1, Fanlei Song1
1Department of Biomedical Engineering, Nanjing University of Aeronautics and Astronautics, Nanjing, 210016, China; Key Laboratory of Multimodal Brain-Computer Precision Drive Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, Nanjing, 210016, China; Key Laboratory of Digital Medical Equipment and Technology of Jiangsu Province, Nanjing, 210016, China.
Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) shows promise for treating insomnia by modulating brain activity in a waveform-specific manner. Specific low-frequency TENS waveforms can promote sleep, offering new avenues for effective insomnia treatments.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Sleep Medicine
- Biomedical Engineering
Background:
- Insomnia is a prevalent neuropsychiatric disorder with limited effective treatments.
- There is a critical need for novel therapeutic approaches to manage insomnia.
- Transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation (TENS) presents a potential non-pharmacological intervention for sleep disorders.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the effects of low-frequency TENS on sleep modulation.
- To determine how different stimulation waveforms influence sleep.
- To explore the underlying mechanisms of TENS in regulating sleep.
Main Methods:
- Forty-five healthy subjects underwent electroencephalography (EEG) recording.
- Four modes of low-frequency (1 Hz) TENS with varying superimposed high frequencies (60-210 Hz) and low frequencies (1-6 Hz) were applied.
- Stimulation was delivered to the greater occipital nerve, with current intensities adjusted for individual tolerance.
Main Results:
- TENS modes M1, M3, and M4 slowed neural activity frequency and altered theta wave distribution.
- These effective TENS modes decreased activity in wakefulness regions and increased it in sleep-related regions.
- TENS mode M2 demonstrated opposing effects, suggesting waveform-dependent modulation.
Conclusions:
- Low-frequency TENS can facilitate sleep in a manner dependent on the stimulation waveform.
- Findings offer insights into TENS mechanisms for sleep modulation.
- This research could inform the development of improved TENS-based insomnia treatments.
