LInsomnia affects a growing number of people, including more and more teenagers. Only in Italy, according to the latest findings by Aims – the Italian Sleep Medicine Association which promotes research, dissemination and clinical training on sleep – approximately 13.4 million suffer from it. However, the 46% do nothing to solve the problem. A figure that has doubled with the Covid pandemic and which he sees in the women are the most affected, around 60% of the total, while the 20% concern children and teenagers. But today there are innovative and even curious solutions, based on engineered music, capable of lowering cortisol levels (the hormone linked to stress) and promoting relaxation. Here’s what it’s all about.
Insomnia, DIY doesn’t work
It seems simpler to do it yourself, but it does not lead to the desired effects. And so we try a thousand supplements, phytotherapeutics, and even take drugs that induce sleep without consulting a doctor. However, if not prescribed and monitored by a specialist, you risk becoming accustomed to them and having to take them in ever-increasing quantities. In addition to the side effects, which should not be underestimated.
Technology that combats insomnia
Today, however, there are very interesting new technologies that can represent a valid aid against insomnia and sleep disorders at any age. We talked about it with the Doctor Alessio Chelucci, Co-founder and director of Effetto Viola, Composer, Biomedical Engineer and Professor at the Master of NeuroAesthetics, Faculty of Medicine and Surgery of the Tor Vergata in Rome. And with the Doctor Maria Luisa Mannarino, Co-founder of Effetto Viola, Voice, Composer and Author. Together they worked for 15 years starting from solid scientific literature, to which they added an innovative algorithm to produce engineered audio files of approximately fifteen minutes, capable of promoting relaxation and sleep.
How does EffettoViola technology work and how is it used?
«PURPLE Effect it’s a cutting-edge technology which, by incorporating a specific algorithm within musical pieces both classic and modern,
helps the listener to automatically and effortlessly reach the desired brain waves and the corresponding mental state.
This is not music therapy, meditation or relaxing soundsbut of a technology that introduces small phase errors between the right and left earphones to achieve the desired effect”explains Doctor Chelucci.
To use it, simply take your phone, put on headphones and listen to a treatment of your choice on the portal. Just like listening to your favorite music on the internet.
When to consult a sleep disorder specialist
«Let’s make a premise: EffettoVIOLA™ is designed to operate effectively on a physiological level. It is not a cure for mental illnesses, symptoms or clinical disorders, for which it is essential to consult doctors or psychologists.
Whether hospital facilities, doctors or psychologists use EffettoVIOLA™ is another matter. They know how, where and when to introduce it”, highlights Chelucci.
«The physiological context is different, it is the most common one: for example, we have all experienced or are experiencing disastrous, heavy but definite periods. Think for example of a bereavement, problems at work, or even a separation. In this case it is normal and physiological to be anxious, stressed and consequently sleep poorly”, continues the expert.
The effect of cortisol on sleep quality
«Biologically it happens that the cortisol, a stress hormone, is found in excess in the blood. This is a hormone that literally keeps us “with a knife between our teeth”, and if it is not disposed of by the evening, it becomes a component that can degrade sleep. This happens for everyone, without distinction: adolescents and adults”, explains Chelucci.
Can it be useful for menopausal women who often have difficulty falling asleep or frequent awakenings?
«For women in menopause, it is even worse. The abnormal levels become more evident (and let’s not dwell on the fact that cortisol also makes you fat). If we want to do things seriously, the key to managing good sleep is therefore twofold: try to lower cortisol (hence daily stress) e at the same time induce a mental state prone to falling asleepin the evening before going to bed.
This can be done in a million ways: for example with lo daily sport or techniques of mindfulness (both lower stress) and perhaps read a good book before sleeping, to help you fall asleep”, advises the expert. Unfortunately this is not always possible or not sufficient.
A passive, comfortable and quick method against insomnia
«If we think about it, do we spend 1/3 of our lives working, 1/3 sleeping and the remaining 1/3? Doing the shopping and other errands that cannot be postponed, queuing on public transport, chasing bureaucracy or other unedifying tasks. Saying to a loved one of ours, when he comes home at 7pm, after a nightmare day: “hey, now pay a little more attention, go for an 8km run or learn to do mindfulness” is therefore not always possible .
I therefore felt the need to create a different approach: a passive method that requires no effort, is pleasant and above all quick”adds Doctor Chelucci.
The new technology passes through music
«That’s why we use classical or modern music as a “shell” of technology. What’s more simple, beautiful and pleasant than listening to immersive music? Everyone will be able to choose their favorite genre: pop, lounge, light, classical, rap.
What does EffettoVIOLA™ do in this case? It uses exactly this approach: it is designed to help the listener to automatically achieve the brain waves typical of a calm and relaxed mindand those typical of the first phase of sleepdepending on the treatment chosen.
So, lower stress during the dayAnd stimulate a compliant mental state with sleep in the eveningbefore bedtime.
Enough choose the “day” and “evening” programs. Then, away with the headphones and phone, and you just think about sleeping”, explains Chelucci.
A personalized approach
But there’s more: the brain waves that this technology helps to reach are those of the listener, his own, the ones he has always had, normally, in the “right” periods.
Therefore, “strange” things or specific frequencies are not stimulated (as in the classics binaural beats) but, on the contrary, we help you find the specific personal setup, which is different and uniquein a personalized approach that respects individuality. This concept is then the uniqueness and power of EffettoVIOLA™
Is it also suitable for teenagers who often have difficulties?
«Today’s adolescents are forced to endure more complex problems than those we were used to in the past.
These are guys who they live two lives at the same time. A, the real one, in which the family is often absent, devoid of emotional manifestations or educational abilities. As a result, kids take refuge in life virtualthat of social media, in which, however, the comparison with the world, a fictitious world, in which beautiful girls and boys, unattainable houses and dream trips, inevitably lead them to “not feeling up to par”. The result is a constant state of frustration, a defeatism that leads them to feel like “nobody” compared to those who have thousands of followers, thus losing the desire to get involved in any field, from school to sport”, adds the Maria Luisa Mannarinowho in addition to being the co-founder of EffettoVIOLA and voice of the songs, is also a literature teacher, and knows the kids very well.
Reset stress and combat insomnia at any age
«And here a vicious circle is triggered, “a dog chasing its tail”: to face the world of social media, which has replaced “the group of friends” and build the necessary trust in himself, the adolescent needs the family support. Not finding it, then he will seek refuge in social media, in virtual life. That he will entertain him, of course, but he will put him in the position of always feeling inferior compared to what he sees. A technology like EffettoVIOLA™ cannot change this type of situation at its root. It would be utopian.
But it can do something very interesting: when the adolescent experiences a state of discomfort (we always and only talk about physiological areas), have a tool in your pocket capable of “resetting” And give one’s own calm and mental balanceendogenous, help you sleep a good sleepcan give the opportunity to see things differently, find solutions, grow.
You can therefore sleep well, removing stress and psychological pressure that the external environment generates, using, not surprisingly, music as a means. Treatments include unreleased songs from different genres, precisely to satisfy every age group and personal taste, thus making the moment of listening even more intimate and pleasant”, adds the expert.
Are there any side effects?
«EffettoVIOLA™ presents the same side effects as a Lucio Dalla album. The carrier is the same. The music. In “normal” music phase errors are chaotic and produce no effects. In EffettoVIOLA™ engineered tracks they are calibrated and directed towards a very specific path and curve. Nothing strange or “exotic” is conveyed. No electromagnetic waves or strange frequencies. In short, it is safe for everyone”assure the two experts.
What are the scientific studies on which EffettoVIOLA is based?
«Without going into too much specifics, we have evolved the technique of Binaural Beats. There are hundreds of scientific publications behind it, in more than 60 years of use. Unfortunately, Binaural Beats can only stimulate the same brain “frequency” for everyone. It’s a bit like providing everyone with a pair of size 43 shoes, men, women, boys. It’s obvious that it’s not the best solution. Furthermore, this can cause, as can be seen from the scientific literature, dei bias”, explains Chelucci.
«Our evolution (DMSPS) therefore lies in personalize the treatment, and make sure that the listener has at his disposal, in the same treatment, an infinite number of shoes, of every size, so that he can find his own. Our commitment is therefore based on individuality, without adding anything “extra””, specifies the expert.
Insomnia and neuroscience without side effects
«Neuroscience yes, but absolutely physiological and free of any side effects, this is our first commitment.
EffettoVIOLA™ was also independently tested by an Italian hospital, with a randomized, double-blind, case-control study to eliminate any possibility of “placebo”, with related international publication.
It was also tested instrumentally with the Olympic national rhythmic gymnastics team (publication FGI) and other professional athletes, such as pilots.
Another difference with standard binaural beats is precisely on the music: the listener will not perceive new age sound effects, white noise, or frequencies that are not pleasant to listen to, but classical and modern music.
Plus, listening is shorter, 15 minutes are enough, instead of hours of treatment”conclude Chelucci and Mannarino.
EffettoVIOLA: the special code for female readers
For readers who would like to try EffettoVIOLA, a dedicated code is available from today until January 24th. To use it it is very simple:
- visit the site with your smartphone https://fettoviola.eu/
- at the top left, click on the menu (the three lines)
- Login –> Login with code (and enter the code iodonna)
Use ONLY with headphones or earphones.
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