Journal
NEUROPSYCHOLOGIA
Volume 69, Issue -, Pages 176-182Publisher
PERGAMON-ELSEVIER SCIENCE LTD
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2015.02.001
Keywords
Hypnosis; Slow-wave Sleep; Aging; Cognitive function; High density EEG
Funding
- Swiss National Foundation (SNF) [PP00P1_133685]
- University Research Priority Program (URPP) Dynamics of Healthy Aging
- Clinical Research Priority Program (CRPP) Sleep and Health of the University of Zurich
- Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF) [PP00P1_133685] Funding Source: Swiss National Science Foundation (SNF)
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Sleep quality markedly declines across the human lifespan. Particularly the amount of slow-wave sleep (SWS) decreases with age and this decrease is paralleled by a loss of cognitive functioning in the elderly. Here we show in healthy elderly females that the amount of SWS can be extended by a hypnotic suggestion to sleep deeper before sleep. In a placebo-controlled cross-over design, participants listened to hypnotic suggestions or a control tape before a midday nap while high density electroencephalography was recorded. After the hypnotic suggestion, we observed a 57% increase in SWS in females suggestible to hypnosis as compared to the control condition. Furthermore, left frontal slow-wave activity (SWA), characteristic for SWS, was significantly increased, followed by a significant improvement in prefrontal cognitive functioning after sleep. Our results suggest that hypnotic suggestions might be a successful alternative for widely-used sleep-enhancing medication to extend SWS and improve cognition in the elderly. (c) 2015 Published by Elsevier Ltd.
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