Reduction in menopause-related symptoms associated with use of a noninvasive neurotechnology for autocalibration of neural oscillations

Charles H Tegeler, Catherine L Tegeler, Jared F Cook, Sung W Lee, Nicholas M Pajewski, Charles H Tegeler, Catherine L Tegeler, Jared F Cook, Sung W Lee, Nicholas M Pajewski

Abstract

Objective: Increased amplitudes in high-frequency brain electrical activity are reported with menopausal hot flashes. We report outcomes associated with the use of High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring--a noninvasive neurotechnology for autocalibration of neural oscillations--by women with perimenopausal and postmenopausal hot flashes.

Methods: Twelve women with hot flashes (median age, 56 y; range, 46-69 y) underwent a median of 13 (range, 8-23) intervention sessions for a median of 9.5 days (range, 4-32). This intervention uses algorithmic analysis of brain electrical activity and near real-time translation of brain frequencies into variable tones for acoustic stimulation. Hot flash frequency and severity were recorded by daily diary. Primary outcomes included hot flash severity score, sleep, and depressive symptoms. High-frequency amplitudes (23-36 Hz) from bilateral temporal scalp recordings were measured at baseline and during serial sessions. Self-reported symptom inventories for sleep and depressive symptoms were collected.

Results: The median change in hot flash severity score was -0.97 (range, -3.00 to 1.00; P = 0.015). Sleep and depression scores decreased by -8.5 points (range, -20 to -1; P = 0.022) and -5.5 points (range, -32 to 8; P = 0.015), respectively. The median sum of amplitudes for the right and left temporal high-frequency brain electrical activity was 8.44 μV (range, 6.27-16.66) at baseline and decreased by a median of -2.96 μV (range, -11.05 to -0.65; P = 0.0005) by the final session.

Conclusions: Hot flash frequency and severity, symptoms of insomnia and depression, and temporal high-frequency brain electrical activity decrease after High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring. Larger controlled trials with longer follow-up are warranted.

Conflict of interest statement

Financial disclosure/conflicts of interest: C.H.T., C.L.T., J.F.C., and N.M.P. declare no conflicts of interest. S.W.L. is an employee of Brain State Technologies LLC.

Figures

FIG. 1
FIG. 1
Changes in hot flash (HF) severity scores across time as a percentage of baseline score for the entire cohort (A) and with focus on the 0% to 150% range that included most participants (B). The y axis indicates the percentage of baseline score. The x axis indicates the number of days since the start of High-resolution, relational, resonance-based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM) sessions. Each line represents an individual participant in the study.
FIG. 2.
FIG. 2.
A, B: Fast Fourier transform spectral display of electroencephalic data with frequency (Hz; central y axis) plotted against transformed amplitude (μV; x axis). Data represent 1 minute of data from the T3/T4 montage with eyes closed at baseline assessment (A) and at the penultimate minute of the final session (B) for one participant (a woman aged 47 y). Note the change in amplitudes in the range 23 to 36 Hz (dark purple) outlined by red boxes.

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Source: PubMed

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