A new technology mattress could trick people into falling asleep faster, researchers say.
Developed by a team of engineers at the University of Texas at Austin, the innovative mattress works by regulating the body’s core temperature.
Our body temperature fluctuates according to a natural 24-hour rhythm and a lower core temperature helps you feel sleepy.
Although it may seem counterintuitive, the mattress warms the neck and lowers the core temperature, which helps to stimulate blood flow to the hands and feet – allowing the heat to dissipate quickly.
Dr. Shebab Hagaig, who led the development of the mattress, said: “We facilitate sleep readiness by using body temperature-related sensors, so you can briefly adjust the body’s temperature control and think the temperature is higher than it actually is.” “
The team evaluated two different iterations of the mattress: one that used water and another that used air to regulate body temperature.
The mattresses were tested on 11 individuals, who were asked to go to bed two hours earlier than usual and use the mattress’s cooling function on some nights and on other nights.
On average, the participants fell asleep 58 percent faster when using the mattress function, compared to those who did not go to sleep two hours earlier.
And not only did it help them nod off faster, but the researchers said it improved sleep quality.
The project is the latest from the lab of Cockerell School of Engineering professor Kenneth Diller, who is looking to find new ways to use heat to help people sleep.
In the year In 2019, researchers published a study showing that taking a warm bath an hour or two before bed helped people fall asleep faster.
The current project, published in Journal of Sleep ResearchIt aims to reduce the internal body temperature to send the signal to go to sleep.
Professor Diller added: “It’s amazing how effective gentle warming of the cervical spine can be by sending signals to the body to increase blood flow to the arms and legs, reducing core temperature and speeding the onset of sleep.”
“This same effect allows the blood pressure to drop slightly overnight, allowing the cardiovascular system to recover from the stresses of daily activity to maintain blood circulation, which is essential for long-term health.”
