Somnambulatory or rem sleep: space research opens up new horizons on sleep monitoring

From space research a new horizon for studying and monitoring sleep. All thanks to a mask with dedicated applications, developed by the Italian Institute of Technology in collaboration with the Universities of Bologna and Salento and the Research and Technology Transfer Centre, and funded by the Italia Space Agency. And with one goal: to understand how we sleep, in space and on earth.

It is precisely from this need that Somniia monitor was born, an instrument that looks like a mask designed 'to be worn during sleep, but inside it integrates a series of advanced sensors that allow us to collect fundamental information on the functioning of the body during sleep'. These include heartbeat and breathing sensors, temperature and movement sensors, and electrodes to record brain activity. The data is then analysed by artificial intelligence algorithms, which can automatically recognise the different stages of sleep - wakefulness, light, deep and Rem sleep - and build up a complete picture of the quality of rest, even in complex operating conditions, such as space. 'A distinctive element of the system,' the space agency emphasises, 'is the use of piezoelectric sensors developed by IIT, which make it possible to monitor breathing, cardiac activity and eye movements in a non-invasive manner, increasing user comfort and reducing the complexity of traditional procedures.

At the heart of the initiative is the role of the Agency, which promoted and supported the project. All with a twofold objective: to develop technologies useful for space missions and to make them transferable in everyday life. "Fundamental," the Agency emphasises, "was the contribution of the partners, who developed the device under the coordination of the Lecce Biomolecular Nanotechnology Centre of the Italian Institute of Technology. They are the Department of Biomedical and Neuromotor Sciences of the University of Bologna, the Department of Innovation Engineering of the University of Salento and CETMA.

"Today, the health of astronauts is a top priority, especially in view of future long-duration missions of the Moon to Mars programme," commented Amy Amata Soriano, Project Manager of Somniia Monitor at the Italian Space Agency. "This project represents a concrete example of synergy between the Agency and Italian research institutes such as the IIT in the context of future space missions, with positive spin-offs for daily life on the ground as well.