Axon Sleep Research Laboratories is beginning the testing phase of a new type of alarm clock called Sleep Smart. The idea is based on minimizing morning grogginess by waking sleep-deprived people during the optimal time in their sleep cycle. The "clock" is designed to monitor brainwaves to pinpoint the best time for that individual to wake up. Clinical trials at Rhode Island Hospital in Providence are scheduled for later this summer.
'Sleep inertia' is defined as a decline in motor dexterity and a feeling of grogginess, immediately following an abrupt awakening from deep sleep.
A University of Colorado study is the first to assess this state and how we perform tasks while in it. The study revealed that people exhibited the most severe impairments from sleep inertia during the groggy period upon awakening. Test subjects had diminished short-term memory, counting skills and cognitive abilities. The most severe effects of sleep inertia generally dissipated within the first 10 minutes, although researchers say its effects are often detectable for up to two hours.
Anyone who performs critical tasks immediately after waking may be vulnerable, since researchers found the cognitive deficiencies that occur when people first wake up are comparable to the effects of alcohol intoxication.
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