Having a good night's sleep is paramount so that we can fulfill all our goals during the day. As disorders such as insomnia, depression and anxiety – which act directly on sleep – are growing in the population, scientists have been focusing more and more on how to make people sleep better.
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A sleep robot study was done on a few volunteers and published in the Journal of Sleep Research. The robot is a smartphone-controlled device that promises to improve sleep quality.
The idea is that the device simulates a “breathing” that should synchronize with the user's breathing. Thus, the person enters a state meditative and consequently sleep faster.
What are the effects of the sleep robot on insomnia, depression and anxiety?
The study lasted three weeks and had the participation of 44 volunteers. They were divided into two groups of 22 people. The sleep robot manufacturer guarantees that effects are seen after one week of use.
So the scientists conducted the study as follows: one group wore the device for 21 days, while the other was on a “waiting list” to use it for the same period after the experiment.
The volunteers were instructed to use the device for 10 to 15 minutes. And so they did during the period proposed by scholars.
Unfortunately, the results were not encouraging. There was no difference in the severity of insomnia in either group. Subjective measures such as arousal, depression and anxiety also did not change.
The scientists, however, stressed that, while rigorous, the study was relatively small. After all, it was made with just 44 people. They theorize that with a larger sample of volunteers, perhaps the sleep robot will show some effect of greater magnitude.
How does insomnia work?
Insomnia is characterized by difficulty sleeping or staying asleep all night, making it poor quality. Thus, it becomes insufficient to repair the body and mind and maintain physical and mental well-being throughout the day.
The disease acts by increasing the level of physiological and psychological alertness during the night. Excessive worry, stress or depression are some of the factors that can trigger a lack of sleep. In some cases, patients suffering from insomnia can also condition sleep to something negative.
Today, treatment for insomnia includes relaxation techniques, cognitive-behavioral therapy, or medication. This is the most common way to treat the disease, however care must be taken so that the patient does not develop dependence or have unwanted adverse effects.
Some patients report good results with alternative medicine techniques. Teas, essential oils and acupuncture (and even the sleep robot in the aforementioned study) are some of the methods used to combat insomnia.
Graduated in Social Communication at the Federal University of Goiás. Passionate about digital media, pop culture, technology, politics and psychoanalysis.