Links to current scientific studies and research papers
Snoring & Sleep Apnea Research
According to Harvard School of Sleep Medicine : Unmanaged snoring and Obstructive Sleep Apnea (OSA) costs the U.S. economy up to $165 Billion annually
Sounds of Science
Naturally arousals re-start breathing but are harmful to long term health
Those with un-treated sleep apnea have “natural” micro arousals of varying lengths and intensities to re-start breathing. These natural arousals are evidenced by a loud snort, gasp or jerking motion. When a person’s breathing pauses for more than ten (10) seconds (an “apnea”), blood oxygen levels drop – (“hypoxima”) and carbon dioxide levels rise – (“hypercapnia”) . The person’s body then naturally arouses itself by releasing epinephrine – also known as Adrenaline(R) in its synthetic form – that acts like an “adrenaline shot to the heart” to constrict blood vessels, raise blood pressure and restart breathing .
Natural arousals do restart breathing but, according to research, they are accompanied by biochemical, biomechanical and physiological stress with adverse consequences including:
- Spikes in blood pressure
- Cardiac stress
- Blood oxygen desaturation in cells throughout the body
- Spikes of negative inspiratory intrathoracic pressure
- Ventilatory overshoots
Repeated stresses caused by natural arousals to restart breathing that remain untreated over time, are linked to heart attacks, stokes, cancer, diabetes, depression, liver disease, cognitive impairment, chronic diseases and impaired quality of life and premature death.
Tones are proven to induce micro arousals that are safer
Scientific studies conducted by independent researchers have shown that low amplitude acoustic audio tones produce non-cortical micro arousals of less than three (3) seconds duration that safely terminate pauses in breathing – without waking the subject up or worsening day time sleepiness.
“Tones delivered relatively early and late in the apnea were equally likely to be associated with resolution of the apnea.”
“These data indicate that transient arousal, induced by non-respiratory stimulation, influences the resolution of obstructive apneas during sleep…the tendency for the stimulus to resolve the apnea within 2 s of the tone… the current study appears to be able to influence respiration consistent with termination, or early resolution, of obstructive apneas in patients with OSA.”
“Furthermore, such non-respiratory afferent stimulation appears to be able to influence apnea resolution without involving ascending arousal systems. Resolution of the apnea after stimulation was generally associated with qualitatively increased submental EMG compared with the EMG during the apnea whether electrocortical arousal occurred… suggesting a similar mechanism of response to tones irrespective of cortical involvement.”
“The current findings suggest that strategies of induced arousal, at an intensity level stimulating respiration while avoiding recruitment of the ascending arousal system and it’s potential effects of sleep disruption, could have potential application as a therapeutic modality.”
Effect of induced transient arousal on obstructive apnea duration
R. C. Basner, E. Onal, D. W. Carley, E. J. Stepanski and M. Lopata
“The present findings do suggest that it may be possible to significantly modulate respiratory drive via nonrespiratory afferent stimulation without causing significant sleep fragmentation or restriction.”
“This may have potential therapeutic implications for disorders such as sleep-related hypoventilation and sleep apnea syndrome. In fact, we have recently demonstrated that AS (audio stimulation) with or without AR (EEG arousal) can shorten the duration of apnea in patients with obstructive sleep apnea syndrome…”
Respiratory and Arousal Responses to Acoustic Stimulation
Robert C. Basner; Ergün Önal; Melvin Lopata; Robert Applebaum; and David W. Carley
Whispers Without Waking™ – Adaptive Learning by Listening
WhisperSom’s Whispers Without Waking™ proprietary software listens to, and automatically “learns” your breathing characteristics while you sleep.
Based on your personal breathing and hearing characteristics, RestBud™ delivers the lowest amplitude sounds necessary (“whispers”) that naturally cause you to stop snoring, re-start breathing and/or change sleeping position.
By comparison to a natural adrenaline-induced micro arousal or elbow from sleep partner, RestBud™ whispers induce non-cortical micro arousals that are far safer.
RestBud™ randomly shuffles the type of whispers it delivers so that you won’t begin to ignore them and not respond. Imagine barely hearing the soft sounds of falling rain, wind in the trees, waves on a beach, a hoot owl or a gentle “turn on your side honey”, rather than a kick or poke in the ribs from your bed partner.
RestBud™ whispers are below the threshold of causing an awakening and automatically help you and others near you get a restful night’s sleep.
WhisperSom™ White Papers
RESEARCH : “…The current findings suggest that strategies of induced arousal, at an intensity level stimulating respiration while avoiding recruitment of the ascending arousal system and it’s potential effects of sleep disruption, could have potential application as a therapeutic modality.”