Ricerc@Sapienza

In the last two decades, a growing number of findings lends support to the idea that physiological levels of cortical arousal can be modulated by inducing changes in specific cortical network via different protocols of transcranial Electrical Stimulation (tES). Specifically, transcranial Direct Current Stimulation (tDCS) has been shown to modulate the firing rate and cortical excitability within the target areas in a polarity-dependent manner, while transcranial Alternating Current Stimulation (tACS) is able to entrain endogenous brain oscillations at specific frequencies. Data from animal/human studies point to the anodal tDCS as the most promising stimulation technique to increase cortical desynchronization and alertness. The general aim of the project is to provide specific setting of tDCS protocols able to modulate cortical arousal levels leading to coherent changes in sleepiness and vigilance in both healthy and clinical populations.
The project will enroll 30 participants: 15 healthy volunteers; 15 patients with Obstructive Sleep Apnea Syndrome (OSAS) with excessive diurnal sleepiness (EDS). Specifically, the project is aimed to enhance daytime vigilance and alertness in healthy subjects undergoing a sleep restriction protocol and in OSAS patients with EDS by using a frontal anodal tDCS protocol to enhance vigilance/alertness.
A multidimensional approach is proposed for the evaluation of the effectiveness of stimulation protocols, considering different measures: objective (EEG Power spectra, PSG parameters), behavioral (Psychomotor Vigilance Task) and subjective (self-report sleepiness questionnaire) measures of sleepiness, sleep propensity and sleep quality will be integrated to provide a multi-level description of changes induced by the specific stimulation along these dimensions. We will evaluate any variability in the magnitude of the effects among different experiments and the impact of the stimulation treatment on patients with OSAS.