High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM) improves symptoms and autonomic function for insomnia: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Catherine L Tegeler; Hossam A Shaltout; Sung W Lee; Sean L Simpson; Lee Gerdes; Charles H Tegeler

doi:10.1002/brb3.1826

High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM) improves symptoms and autonomic function for insomnia: A randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial

Brain Behav. 2020 Nov;10(11):e01826. doi: 10.1002/brb3.1826. Epub 2020 Sep 17.

Authors

Catherine L Tegeler¹, Hossam A Shaltout², Sung W Lee³, Sean L Simpson⁴, Lee Gerdes⁵, Charles H Tegeler¹

Affiliations

¹ Department of Neurology, Wake Forest School of Medicine (WFSM), Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
² Hypertension and Vascular Research Center, WFSM, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
³ University of Arizona School of Medicine, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
⁴ Department of Biostatistics and Data Sciences, WFSM, Winston-Salem, NC, USA.
⁵ Brain State Technologies, LLC, Scottsdale, AZ, USA.

Abstract

Introduction: Effective insomnia interventions that also address autonomic dysregulation are lacking. We evaluate high-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM^® ), in a randomized, controlled clinical trial. HIRREM is a noninvasive, closed-loop, allostatic, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology, to support self-optimization of brain rhythms.

Methods: One hundred and seven adults (mean age 45.7, SD ± 5.6, 73 women), with Insomnia Severity Index (ISI) scores of ≥15, received ten, 90-min sessions of HIRREM, with tones linked to brainwaves (LB, 56), or random tones not linked to brainwaves (NL, 51), as an active, sham placebo. Outcomes were obtained at enrollment (V1), 1-7 days (V2), 8-10 weeks (V3), and 16-18 weeks (V4) after intervention. Primary outcome was differential change in ISI from V1 to V3. Secondary measures assessed depression (BDI), anxiety (BAI), quality of life (EQ-5D), and a sleep diary. Ten minute recordings of HR and BP allowed analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) and baroreflex sensitivity (BRS).

Results: Of 107 randomized, 101 completed the intervention. Intention-to-treat analysis (107) of change from V1 to V3 revealed a mean reduction of ISI in NL of -4.93 (SE ± 0.76) points, with additional, significant reduction of -2.05 points (0.74) in LB (total reduction of -6.98, p = .045). Additional reduction of -2.30 points (0.76) was still present in the LB at V4 (p = .058). Total ISI reduction from V1 to V4 was -5.90 points for NL and -7.93 points in LB. There were group differences (p < .05) for multiple HRV and BRS measures (rMSSD, SDNN, HF alpha, and Seq ALL), as well as total sleep time, sleep onset latency, and sleep efficiency. There were no serious adverse events.

Conclusions: Results of this controlled clinical trial showed clinically relevant reduction of insomnia symptoms with HIRREM, over, and above an active, sham control, with associated, durable improvement in autonomic cardiovascular regulation.

Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT01971567.

Keywords: HIRREM; acoustic neuromodulation; allostasis; autonomic; closed-loop neurotechnology; insomnia.

Publication types

Randomized Controlled Trial
Research Support, N.I.H., Extramural
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Autonomic Nervous System
Baroreflex
Female
Heart Rate
Humans
Middle Aged
Quality of Life
Sleep Initiation and Maintenance Disorders*
Treatment Outcome

Associated data

ClinicalTrials.gov/NCT01971567

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Associated data

Grants and funding