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Company treating sleep disorders, stress with brain music
That tune stuck in your head may be the key to helping you get more and better sleep while also reducing painful headaches brought on by stress.That's what the U.S. Department of Homeland Security is betting on, which is why it has turned to a Purcellville neuroscience research company called Human Bionics LLC to tap into the music found in everyone's noggin.
"Strain comes with an emergency response job, so we are interested in finding ways to help these workers remain at the top of their game when working and get quality rest when they go off a shift," said Department of Homeland Security program manager Robert Burns in a statement. "Our goal is to find new ways to help first responders perform at the highest level possible, without increasing tasks, training or stress levels."
Founded by Purcellville resident Don DuRousseau a decade ago, Human Bionics is currently conducting a pilot study for the department in which sleep-deprived emergency personnel are treated with classical-sounding music produced by their own brain waves.
It's not a new concept, but brain music is catching on as a way to normalize sleep routines, reduce depression, ease headaches and relieve stress, among other conditions.
“We have people who swear by this,” DuRousseau said. “If it's a bad day, instantly it drops me into a relaxed state.”
It works like this:
A patient is fitted with a skullcap adorned with a series of electroencephalographic, or EEG, sensors. Then, over a span of about five minutes, the device, which DuRousseau invented, records the patient's brain wave patterns.
The recordings are sent to a facility in New York City, where the patterns are run through a computer system that identifies unique rhythms in the waves. The end result is two unique pieces of music: One is slower-paced for relaxation and the other is slightly more upbeat to give the patient a jolt of energy when needed. Samples DuRousseau has in his office resemble melodic chamber music.
For emergency personnel who work odd hours, DuRousseau said the results he has seen so far in his study have been encouraging.
Four of five local firefighters he recently treated have shown improved sleeping after listening to their brain music before and after shifts.
Ultimately, nearly 50 volunteers will take part in the study, which DuRousseau hopes to wrap up in July.
If successful, brain music therapy may be used on first responders throughout the country.
Realizing this, DuRousseau is already busy preparing to open a series of clinics called Peak Neurotraining Solutions to accommodate what could be a widespread need for his services.
“That's the goal,” he said.
Click here to listen to samples of brain music. Samples are half-way down.
Contact the reporter at jjacks@timespapers.com
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