Guardian Sleep Assessment System: Detecting Microarousals Associated with Leg Movements during Sleep

This proposal will further develop the Guardian Sleep Assessment System, GSAS, a TRL-6 multi-element prototype (knowledge product and device) that characterizes via Leg Movements during Sleep (LMS) and their associated micro-cortical arousals (EEG-defined abnormalities) along with a host of other standard sleep metrics. These signals serve as objective biomarkers to quantify the restorative quality of sleep. Critically, humans have no conscious experience of micro-cortical arousals despite their significant influence on performance. Currently, the only way to detect these events is using a cumbersome array of EEG sensors in highly specialized sleep laboratories. Our TRL-6 technology facilitates assessment of micro-cortical arousals outside the laboratory and provides tools to generate interpretable, actionable information about sleep quality to the lay user. In this project, we will further develop the GSAS, a specialized version of this technology for operability in military relevant environments including building an algorithm to predict next day cognitive performance. We will also perform a study that collects micro-cortical arousal data from the GSAS and polysomnography followed by cognitive tests performed after the overnight study. The GSAS system will be a field-ready, self-contained system for predicting military-relevant performance across multiple domains, leveraging the untapped potential of sleep monitoring and cognitive performance prediction to optimize Warfighter performance, team effectiveness, and operational readiness.