Neuromodulation of Arousal Levels for the Treatment of Sleep-Wake Disorders

A system for modulating sleep-wake levels in a subject, the system comprising:

• a first electrode adapted for recording a brain electrical signal associated with wakefulness or sleepiness of the subject, wherein the brain electrical signal is from a ventral capsule (VC) region, a subgenual cingulate (SGC) region, an amygdala region, an orbitofrontal cortex (OFC) region, or a striato-limbic region of the subject;
• a second electrode adapted for applying electrical stimulation to a location in the VC region, the OFC region, or the SGC region of the subject;
• and
• a processor programmed to instruct the second electrode to apply the electrical stimulation to the VC region, the OFC region, or the SGC region of the subject in a manner effective to modulate sleep-wake levels in the subject when the brain electrical signal associated with wakefulness or sleepiness of the subject that is detected using the first electrode exceeds a threshold level.

A closed-loop method for treating obsessive-compulsive disorder or major depressive disorder in a subject, the method comprising:

• applying electrical stimulation to an anterior limb of internal capsule (ALIC) region of the subject using a first electrode in a manner effective to treat the obsessive-compulsive disorder or major depressive disorder in the subject;
• recording a beta frequency brain electrical signal associated with wakefulness of the subject using a second electrode, wherein the beta frequency brain electrical signal is from a striato-limbic region of the subject;
• and
• decreasing amplitude of electrical stimulation during nighttime hours when spectral power of the beta frequency brain electrical signal exceeds a threshold level.