Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study

BackgroundThe pursuit of sleep quality has become an important aspect of people’s global quest for overall health. However, the objective neurobiological features corresponding to subjective perceptions of sleep quality remain poorly understood. Although previous studies have...

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Main Authors: Chuanliang Han, Zhizhen Zhang, Yuchen Lin, Shaojia Huang, Jidong Mao, Weiwen Xiang, Fang Wang, Yuping Liang, Wufang Chen, Xixi Zhao
Format: Article
Language:English
Published: JMIR Publications 2025-03-01
Series:Journal of Medical Internet Research
Online Access:https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e67188
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author Chuanliang Han
Zhizhen Zhang
Yuchen Lin
Shaojia Huang
Jidong Mao
Weiwen Xiang
Fang Wang
Yuping Liang
Wufang Chen
Xixi Zhao
author_facet Chuanliang Han
Zhizhen Zhang
Yuchen Lin
Shaojia Huang
Jidong Mao
Weiwen Xiang
Fang Wang
Yuping Liang
Wufang Chen
Xixi Zhao
author_sort Chuanliang Han
collection DOAJ
description BackgroundThe pursuit of sleep quality has become an important aspect of people’s global quest for overall health. However, the objective neurobiological features corresponding to subjective perceptions of sleep quality remain poorly understood. Although previous studies have investigated the relationship between electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep, the lack of longitudinal follow-up studies raises doubts about the reproducibility of their findings. ObjectiveCurrently, there is a gap in research regarding the stable associations between EEG data and sleep quality assessed through multiple data collection sessions, which could help identify potential neurobiological targets related to sleep quality. MethodsIn this study, we used a portable EEG device to collect resting-state prefrontal cortex EEG data over a 3-month follow-up period from 42 participants (27 in the first month, 25 in the second month, and 40 in the third month). Each month, participants’ sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to estimate their recent sleep quality. ResultsWe found that there is a significant and consistent positive correlation between low α band activity in the prefrontal cortex and PSQI scores (r=0.45, P<.001). More importantly, this correlation remained consistent across all 3-month follow-up recordings (P<.05), regardless of whether we considered the same cohort or expanded the sample size. Furthermore, we discovered that the periodic component of the low α band primarily contributed to this significant association with PSQI. ConclusionsThese findings represent the first identification of a stable and reliable neurobiological target related to sleep quality through multiple follow-up sessions. Our results provide a solid foundation for future applications of portable EEG devices in monitoring sleep quality and screening for sleep disorders in a broad population.
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spelling doaj-art-1b85ea1b6406427daeaa755b4ec90dc72025-08-20T01:57:35ZengJMIR PublicationsJournal of Medical Internet Research1438-88712025-03-0127e6718810.2196/67188Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal StudyChuanliang Hanhttps://orcid.org/0000-0002-5734-4790Zhizhen Zhanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-7856-7020Yuchen Linhttps://orcid.org/0009-0008-8956-1934Shaojia Huanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-8538-5007Jidong Maohttps://orcid.org/0009-0000-0943-310XWeiwen Xianghttps://orcid.org/0009-0004-9981-4086Fang Wanghttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-9153-7418Yuping Lianghttps://orcid.org/0009-0007-1337-5599Wufang Chenhttps://orcid.org/0009-0009-3917-6146Xixi Zhaohttps://orcid.org/0000-0003-1745-8184 BackgroundThe pursuit of sleep quality has become an important aspect of people’s global quest for overall health. However, the objective neurobiological features corresponding to subjective perceptions of sleep quality remain poorly understood. Although previous studies have investigated the relationship between electroencephalogram (EEG) and sleep, the lack of longitudinal follow-up studies raises doubts about the reproducibility of their findings. ObjectiveCurrently, there is a gap in research regarding the stable associations between EEG data and sleep quality assessed through multiple data collection sessions, which could help identify potential neurobiological targets related to sleep quality. MethodsIn this study, we used a portable EEG device to collect resting-state prefrontal cortex EEG data over a 3-month follow-up period from 42 participants (27 in the first month, 25 in the second month, and 40 in the third month). Each month, participants’ sleep quality was assessed using the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) to estimate their recent sleep quality. ResultsWe found that there is a significant and consistent positive correlation between low α band activity in the prefrontal cortex and PSQI scores (r=0.45, P<.001). More importantly, this correlation remained consistent across all 3-month follow-up recordings (P<.05), regardless of whether we considered the same cohort or expanded the sample size. Furthermore, we discovered that the periodic component of the low α band primarily contributed to this significant association with PSQI. ConclusionsThese findings represent the first identification of a stable and reliable neurobiological target related to sleep quality through multiple follow-up sessions. Our results provide a solid foundation for future applications of portable EEG devices in monitoring sleep quality and screening for sleep disorders in a broad population.https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e67188
spellingShingle Chuanliang Han
Zhizhen Zhang
Yuchen Lin
Shaojia Huang
Jidong Mao
Weiwen Xiang
Fang Wang
Yuping Liang
Wufang Chen
Xixi Zhao
Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study
Journal of Medical Internet Research
title Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study
title_full Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study
title_fullStr Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study
title_full_unstemmed Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study
title_short Monitoring Sleep Quality Through Low α-Band Activity in the Prefrontal Cortex Using a Portable Electroencephalogram Device: Longitudinal Study
title_sort monitoring sleep quality through low α band activity in the prefrontal cortex using a portable electroencephalogram device longitudinal study
url https://www.jmir.org/2025/1/e67188
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