AI and Neuromodulation Aid Sleep Disorders

A new collaboration will develop a new generation of electronic devices to investigate sleep modulation between the University of Toronto’s Xilin Liu, assistant professor in the Edward S. Rogers Sr. department of electrical and computer engineering in the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering, and Andrew G. Richardson, research assistant professor of neurosurgery at the University of Pennsylvania. Their research could lead to the development of new therapies for a variety of sleep disorders.

We spend roughly one-third of our lives sleeping. During sleep, the brain goes through essential processes that help with memory consolidation, neuronal restoration, and toxin clearance. Sleep interruptions can obstruct these processes. Despite the fact that excellent “sleep hygiene” is widely acknowledged as critical to both physical and mental health, sleep disturbances remain common.

“40 per cent of Canadians have sleep disorders, with over 3 million suffering from insomnia,” says Liu, director of the X-Lab and affiliate scientist at the the KITE Research Institute.

“Sleep deficits negatively affect brain functions such as attention and memory, and immune function, metabolism and heart health. Chronic sleep-wake disruptions are connected to neurodegenerative disorders such as Huntington’s, Parkinson’s and Alzheimer’s disease, and cognitive decline with aging.”

Liu’s research focuses on the creation of integrated circuits and systems for the advancement of health care, digital communication, and machine learning. In the new cooperation, he will be developing fully integrated wireless systems-on-chips capable of modulating sleep behavior autonomously in pre-clinical research.

“Sleep is a complex procedure involving different stages and patterns,” he says. “To address this, we are integrating machine-learning algorithms into our devices. These new algorithms can recognize sleep patterns and identify sleep disorders that may not be distinguishable using traditional algorithms.”

Liu and his colleagues think that by using these new methodologies, they will be able to acquire a better knowledge of how our brains function while sleeping and how to modify sleep circuits.

They also intend to include other brain interfacing capabilities into the device, allowing for more precise and accurate treatments. The findings of this study will help to enhance neuromodulation, a procedure that involves implanting devices inside a patient’s brain, spinal cord, or peripheral nerves. These gadgets are intended to modulate cerebral activity and aid in the reduction of symptoms associated with certain diseases.

Liu is a member of the Faculty of Applied Science and Engineering’s CRANIA Neuromodulation Institute (CNMI), which brings together professionals in engineering and neuroscience in a collaborative hub for neuromodulation research.

The National Institutes of Health (NIH) has funded Liu’s initiative $2.2 million under their Research initiative Grant Program (R01), and it is sponsored by industry partners such as the Canadian Microelectronics Corporation and Open Ephys.

The NIH R01 grant is a highly competitive award, and Liu and Richardson’s proposal was among the top 1% of all submissions.

“This is a great sign that NIH recognizes the value and impact of this research and the caliber of the team,” Liu says. “We’re excited to receive this funding and over the next four years we hope to get to a stage where the technology can be used in clinical trials.”

Liu’s research team’s long-term goal is to develop wearable sleep modification devices that people can use at home to improve the quality of their sleep.

“While there are medications available to treat sleep disorders, the challenge lies in the fact that we still don’t fully comprehend what actually occurs in our brains during sleep,” Liu says.

“It’s possible that there are low-cost, high-efficacy treatments available for sleep disorders that we are currently unaware of.”

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