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Somnomat: a novel actuated bed to investigate the effect of vestibular stimulation

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Abstract

Rocking movements are known to affect human sleep. Previous studies have demonstrated that the transition from wake to sleep can be facilitated by rocking movements, which might be related to relaxation. However, it is not yet known which movements would have the greatest effect. Thus, a 6-degree-of-freedom tendon-based robotic bed was developed, for systematic evaluation of vestibular stimuli. The applicability of the device was evaluated with 25 subjects. Six movement axes were tested and analyzed for differences in promoting relaxation. Relaxation was assessed by electroencephalogram, electrocardiogram, respiration and a questionnaire. The developed device fulfilled all needed requirements proving the applicability of this technology. Movements had no significant effects on the electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram. Respiration frequency was significantly lower for baseline measurements without movement (median 0.183–0.233 Hz) compared to movement conditions (median 0.283–0.300 Hz). Questionnaire ratings showed a trend (p = 0.057) toward higher relaxation for movements along the vertical axis (z-axis) (median 4.67; confidence interval 4.33–5.67) compared to the roll-axis (median 4.33; confidence interval 3.67–5.00). Movements along the vertical axis (z-axis), therefore, appear most promising in promoting relaxation, though no effects were found in electroencephalogram and electrocardiogram variables. This lack of effect might be attributed to the short exposure to the movements and the large inter-individual variability and individual preferences among subjects.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Dr. Peter Wolf, Alessandro Rotta and Michael Herold-Nadig (ETH Zurich) for their technical support, their advice and contributions during the development and evaluation of the device. Furthermore, we would like to thank Dr. Sebastian Zaunseder (TU Dresden) and Dr. Leila Tarokh (University of Zurich) for their support with data analysis. Robert Riener and Peter Achermann are also members of the Zurich Center for Interdisciplinary Sleep Research, University of Zurich; the Neuroscience Center Zurich, University of Zurich and ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. Furthermore, Peter Achermann is member of the Zurich Center for Integrative Human Physiology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland. This project was supported by the ETH Zurich Research Grant ETHIIRA (ETH-18 11-1) and the NCCR Transfer Projects of the Swiss National Science Foundation (51NF40-1444639).

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    Authors and Affiliations

    1. Sensory-Motor Systems Lab, ETH Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

      Francesco Crivelli, Ximena Omlin, Georg Rauter, Joachim von Zitzewitz & Robert Riener

    2. Medical Faculty, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

      Georg Rauter & Robert Riener

    3. International Paraplegic Foundation Chair in Spinal Cord Repair, Center for Neuroprosthetics and Brain-Mind Institute, EPFL, Lausanne, Switzerland

      Joachim von Zitzewitz

    4. Institute of Pharmacology and Toxicology, University of Zurich, Zurich, Switzerland

      Peter Achermann

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    1. Francesco Crivelli
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    2. Ximena Omlin
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    3. Georg Rauter
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    4. Joachim von Zitzewitz
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    5. Peter Achermann
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    6. Robert Riener
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    Correspondence to Ximena Omlin.

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    Francesco Crivelli and Ximena Omlin have contributed equally to the work.

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    Crivelli, F., Omlin, X., Rauter, G. et al. Somnomat: a novel actuated bed to investigate the effect of vestibular stimulation. Med Biol Eng Comput 54, 877–889 (2016). https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-015-1423-3

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    • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s11517-015-1423-3

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