Do sleeping deaf humans sensitive to somatosensation?

2014 Fiscal Year Final Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 24621004
• Research Category: Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research (C)
• Allocation Type: Multi-year Fund
• Section: 一般
• Research Field: 睡眠科学
• Research Institution: Shiga University of Medical Science
• Principal Investigator: IMAI Makoto 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 非常勤講師 (40335170)
• Co-Investigator(Kenkyū-buntansha): YAMADA Naoto 滋賀医科大学, 医学部, 教授 (50166724)
• Co-Investigator(Renkei-kenkyūsha): MURAKAMI Jyunichi 琵琶湖病院, 医師 (40574314)
• Project Period (FY): 2012-04-01 – 2015-03-31
• Keywords: 感覚情報処理 / 睡眠 / 難聴 / 防災

Outline of Final Research Achievements

The effects of air-diluted Wasabi odor (allyl isothiocyanate: 3.5-20PPM) on sleeping humans with and without hearing disabilities were monitored. The mean latencies between arrival of the odor at the bed and pressing the button by the bed were approximately 21 sec for deaf subjects and 45 sec for hearing subjects, respectively in sleep stage 2. Observed quick response to the odor, which stimulates trigeminal somatosensory system, in early-onset deaf subjects probably reflects neuroplastic changes, namely, involvement of original auditory area in temporal lobe for somatosensory information processing. The findings of this research was applied to fire alarm for the deaf and patented. Researcher gave several lecture presentations in relation to the Ig Nobel Prize or innovation.

Free Research Field

臨床精神医学、睡眠、高次脳機能