image: Maps showing the location and extent of the regions of interest used in this study on the effects of an allostatic closed-loop neurotechnology (HIRREM) on brain functional connectivity laterality in military-related traumatic stress. Montreal Neurological Institute coordinates are listed below each slice. view more
Credit: © Cereset and Wake Forrest School of Medicine
(Scottsdale, Ariz. - January 27, 2021) HIRREM (the legacy research technology of Cereset - a Brain State Company) was utilized by the Wake Forest School of Medicine to study symptoms of traumatic stress in military personnel before and after use of Cereset (legacy) intervention.
Whole brain, resting state magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was done pre- and post- Cereset intervention. Significant effects on brain network connectivity have been previously reported.
For the current study, lateralization of brain connectivity was analyzed. Lateralization here refers to the distribution of brain connections within the right, and left side, or to the opposite side. This is important because common lobes in the right and left hemispheres of the brain execute different functions. Of note for these results, the parasympathetic division of the autonomic nervous system (which we think of as the "brake to rest and digest") is managed primarily on the left, and the sympathetic division (which we think of as the "gas to go") is driven primarily on the right." Thus, the dominant left is a "freeze or numbing" response indicator, and in contrast, a dominant right is the "fight or flight" response indicator.
Asymmetries were identified at baseline, along with changes in lateralization patterns after Cereset. Significant correlations were seen between whole-brain lateralization and symptoms of posttraumatic stress. These findings help to understand the effects of and how best to treat traumatic stress.
The brain is the organ of central command which activates and manages autonomic responses to trauma and stress. Results of this study support the model of bihemispheric autonomic management of traumatic stress (BHAM), proposed by Brain State and Wake Forest 6 years ago. Regulated connections of the brain appear to be the upstream driver of health and wellbeing. When connections between hemispheres are more balanced, individuals are healthier.
Of note is the basis for this brain movement towards a healthier pattern. Cereset merely reflects the brain's own electrical patterns using engineered tones to represent dominant brain frequencies. The client receiving Cereset is comfortably seated in a reclining chair to listen to the brain generated tones or BrainEcho®. This supports the brain to relax, to change, and to reset itself to improve balance and symmetry, which is associated with reduced symptoms of traumatic stress.
Many prior clinical studies have demonstrated benefits associated with the use of Cereset for symptoms of insomnia, depression, stress, anxiety, concussion, hot flashes, postural orthostatic tachycardia, and migraine. The current and previous clinical trials also included objective outcome measures such as heart rate variability to demonstrate significant improvement in autonomic function. Symptom benefits were durable for up to 6 months in the current study, and autonomic improvement was durable through the final follow-up visit at 4 months in a placebo-controlled trial for insomnia.
The addition of the MRI lateralization findings reported in this study and the correlation with symptoms not only support the BHAM model but also point to a mechanism of effect for the clinical benefits previously reported with Cereset. Symptoms associated with trauma, stress, and allostatic load now affect a majority of the population. Cereset noninvasively supports the brain to balance and regulate itself with resulting benefits for psychological symptoms of traumatic stress and improved autonomic function.
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Funding for this study was provided by: The Susanne Marcus Collins Foundation Inc., Joint Capability Technology Demonstration Program within the Office of the Under Secretary of Defense, US Special Operations Command, and the Wake Forest Clinical and Translational Science Institute.
For more information about Cereset Research / HIRREM clinical research studies, and other innovations in closed-loop neurotechnology / balanced neuromodulation, visit:
https://www.wakehealth.edu/hirrem
https://cereset.com/research
For more information about Cereset, contact:
https://cereset.com
info@cereset.com
(480) 265-8800
Journal
Journal of Neuroimaging