Sounds of Rest: Using Auditory Stimuli to Optimize Daytime Naps

Sleep is a fundamental yet enigmatic biological process essential for maintaining overall health and well-being. Despite its importance, the precise mechanisms andfunctions of sleep remain only partially understood. This thesis explores the potential for sound to enhance sleep quality during short daytime naps, a practiceincreasingly recognized for its health benefits. The study specifically examines the effectiveness of different variations of broadband noise in improving sleep quality. The research is motivated by the need for non-pharmacological interventions to address common sleep issues, which can lead to significant health problems. Theprimary objective is to design, develop, and evaluate auditory stimuli tailored to the N1 and N2 stages of NREM. The methodology involves collecting EEG data fromparticipants during short naps, delivering different auditory based on their current sleep stage, and assessing their impact on sleep quality through both subjective andobjective measures. Overall, the results of this study suggest encouraging yet statistically insignificant trends in sleep quality across subjective and objective measures. The data collectedprovide a foundation for understanding the relationship between sound and sleep, contributing to the ongoing research in this area.