Magnetically Induced Power Nap

In the deepest stages of sleep brain patterns exhibit what is called slow wave activity. At this stage in the sleep cycle, electrical waves appear to pulse across the brain once a second. Slow wave activity is associated with improved mood, learning abilities, and cognitive performance. People who experience insomnia or other sleep disorders may not be able to reap the benefits of slow wave sleep. Thus, researchers in the United States have developed a way of inducing slow wave activity in the brain during sleep. Giulio Tononi and his colleagues have developed a method of using transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) to induce slow waves in sleeping patients. The magnetic signal is essentially harmless, and the brain activity recorded matches the desired wave form. Although the production of slow wave activity has been accomplished, it has yet to be determined whether or not this therapy results in the same benefits as natural deep sleep. If the magnetically induced deep sleep were to have similar benefits, the TMS therapy could be used to treat insomnia and other sleeping disorders. Also, the device could be used to optimize sleep by allowing a power nap to reap the same benefits of eight hours of sleep.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/6614433.stm