Closed Loop Acoustic Stimulation During Sedation With Dexmedetomidine

Closed Loop Acoustic Stimulation During Sedation With Dexmedetomidine

Prospective within-subject study of dexmedetomidine sedation paired with CLAS conditions in repeated blocks. Intervention will consist of CLAS in-phase with EEG slow waves. Anti-phase stimulation will serve as an active control while sham stimulation will serve as a passive control.

Both nonpharmacologic and pharmacologic interventions augment expression of EEG slow waves that mimic those of natural sleep. Closed loop auditory stimulation (CLAS) is a noninvasive inexpensive approach to augment the spectral power and duration of these slow waves. Whether in-phase CLAS may address this need is unknown, since acoustic potentiation of pharmacologically-induced slow waves has not been investigated. This prospective within-subject study of dexmedetomidine sedation paired with CLAS will assess the feasibility of augmenting EEG slow waves during sedation.

Inclusion Criteria:

• Age 18-40 years
• Healthy volunteers (American Society of Anesthesiologists Physical Status 1-2).

Exclusion Criteria:

• Diagnosed sleep disorders
• Habitually short sleepers
• Diagnosed psychiatric disorders
• Use of psychoactive medication (e.g., antidepressants, mood stabilizers or antipsychotics), diagnosed hearing disorder
• Neck circumference > 40 cm
• Body Mass Index > 30
• Acknowledged recreational drug or nicotine use
• Resting heart rate during slow wave sleep < 40 beats per minute
• Pregnancy or nursing
• Persistently inconsistent or elevated QST heat pain tolerance thresholds (>50 ºC).