Functional Brain Network Changes Following Use of an Allostatic, Closed‐Loop, Acoustic Stimulation Neurotechnology for Military‐Related Traumatic Stress

Abstract

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE Post‐traumatic stress disorder is associated with connectivity changes in the default mode, central executive, and salience networks, and other brain regions. This study evaluated changes in network connectivity associated with usage of High‐resolution, relational, resonance‐based electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM ® ; Brain State Technologies, Scottsdale, AZ), a closed‐loop, allostatic, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology, for military‐related traumatic stress. METHODS Eighteen participants (17 males, mean age 41 years [SD = 7], 15 active duty) enrolled in an IRB approved pilot trial for symptoms of military‐related traumatic stress. Participants received 19.5 (1.1) HIRREM sessions over 12 days. Symptoms, physiological and functional measures, and whole brain resting MRI were collected before and after HIRREM. Six whole brain functional networks were evaluated using summary variables and community structure of predefined networks. Pre to postintervention change was analyzed using paired‐sample statistical tests. RESULTS Postintervention, there was an overall increase in connectivity of the default mode network ( P = .0094). There were decreases of community structure in both the anterior portion of the default mode (medial prefrontal cortex, P = .0097) and in the sensorimotor ( P = .005) network. There were no statistically significant changes at the whole brain level, or in the central executive, salience, or other networks analyzed. Participants demonstrated significant improvements in clinical symptoms, as well as autonomic cardiovascular regulation, which have been reported previously. CONCLUSIONS Use of closed‐loop, allostatic, acoustic stimulation neurotechnology (HIRREM) was associated with connectivity changes in the default mode and sensorimotor networks, in directions that may have explained the subjects’ clinical improvements.

Pilot Trial of a Noninvasive Closed-Loop Neurotechnology for Stress-Related Symptoms in Law Enforcement: Improvements in Self-Reported Symptoms and Autonomic Function

“…22 Moreover, improved network connectivity on whole-brain rest magnetic resonance imaging was observed in participants with military-related traumatic stress. 23 Finally, in a controlled trial of HIRREM for moderate to severe insomnia (auditory tones linked to brainwaves vs random tones), there was not only added benefit with the active intervention to reduce symptoms, but significant increases were also observed in multiple objective measures of autonomic cardiovascular regulation, with durability to 4 months post-HIRREM. 24 , 25 Based on previous experience, the hypothesis was that the use of HIRREM by law enforcement personnel would be associated with reduced symptoms and improved autonomic function.…”

High‐resolution, relational, resonance‐based, electroencephalic mirroring (HIRREM) improves symptoms and autonomic function for insomnia: A randomized, placebo‐controlled clinical trial

“…Reduced insomnia symptoms and improved autonomic cardiovascular regulation were observed in a large open label series (Shaltout et al., 2018). Reduced self‐reported symptoms of insomnia, PTSD, depression, and anxiety, improved autonomic cardiovascular regulation, and significant changes in network connectivity on whole brain rest MRI, was reported in a cohort with military‐related symptoms of post‐traumatic stress (Lee et al., 2019; Tegeler, Gerdes, et al, 2017).…”

Leveraging Deep Learning for Designing Healthcare Analytics Heuristic for Diagnostics

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