Developed at UT-Austin, the wearable uses gentle ultrasound waves to stimulate deep brain regions, helping users reach REM sleep faster.
Key takeaways:
- The NEUSLeeP patch helped study participants reach REM sleep 43 minutes faster and maintain it 16 minutes longer on average.
- The noninvasive device targets deep brain regions using ultrasound waves while monitoring brain activity in real time.
- Researchers plan larger trials to explore the patch’s potential for addressing conditions like PTSD, depression, and chronic insomnia.
A University of Texas (UT) at Austin-led team of researchers recently developed a noninvasive patch designed to boost REM sleep in real-world trials without the use of surgery or medication.
The technology, called NEUSLeeP, is a soft, wearable bioelectronic device. It uses gentle ultrasound waves and electrodes to stimulate deep brain regions and monitor brain activity in real time.
“This is the first time we’ve been able to noninvasively target deep brain regions involved in REM sleep, while simultaneously monitoring brain activity,” says Kai Wing “Kevin” Tang, a recent UT biomedical engineering PhD graduate who led the research effort, in a release.
“Our skin-attached NEUSLeeP patch opens up new possibilities for understanding sleep and treating sleep disorders in home settings,” says Huiliang “Evan” Wang, assistant professor in the Cockrell School of Engineering’s department of biomedical engineering and principal investigator of the project, in a release.
In a study of 28 people published in Nature Communications, the patch helped participants reach REM sleep 43 minutes faster and stay in it about 16 minutes longer on average. The effect held for both healthy sleepers and individuals with sleep issues. Participants reported the patch was comfortable and safe, noting minimal adverse effects.
The study also found that the device’s stimulation improved heart rate variability—a marker of a healthy stress response—in healthy participants. Brain scans indicated changes in emotional brain circuits, suggesting potential benefits for mood and resilience.
“REM sleep is not just about dreaming—it’s about emotional reset and stress adaptation,” says Gregory Fonzo, assistant professor in the Dell Medical School’s department of psychiatry and behavioral sciences and a co-principal investigator, in a release. “By enhancing REM, we may help people better cope with stress and improve their overall well-being.”
Because disrupted REM sleep is linked to conditions such as depression, anxiety, and post-traumatic stress disorder, the researchers are planning larger trials to confirm their findings. They aim to explore NEUSLeeP’s potential for these conditions, as well as chronic insomnia. The team also envisions the patch being used for at-home sleep monitoring, brain research, and personalized sleep therapies.
“Our vision is a future where patients with mental health disorders can optimize their sleep with a noninvasive and safe treatment,” says Vincent Mysliwiec, MD, a professor at UT Health San Antonio and a project co-principal investigator, in a release. “This technology could help millions of people get the restorative sleep they need.”
The researchers are currently working with UT’s commercialization unit, Discovery to Impact, to bring the product to market and have filed a patent application for the technology.
