Most people recognize the feeling of stress in their daily lives. Racing thoughts, muscle tension, difficulty relaxing, and poor sleep are all common signs that the body's stress response is active.
But what if we could actually measure relaxation inside the body?
A 2014 pilot study conducted by SleepImage explored exactly that question. Researchers investigated whether the Dreampad could influence the autonomic nervous system—the system responsible for regulating stress, relaxation, and sleep. Rather than relying on questionnaires or personal observations, the study used physiological measurements to evaluate what was happening in the body during Dreampad use.
The findings suggest that the Dreampad may help activate the body's natural relaxation response.
The autonomic nervous system has two primary branches:
The sympathetic nervous system
Often called the "fight-or-flight" system, this branch prepares the body for action. It increases alertness, raises heart rate, and helps us respond to stress.
The parasympathetic nervous system
Often called the "rest-and-digest" system, this branch promotes relaxation, recovery, and healthy sleep.
For quality rest and restorative sleep to occur, the parasympathetic nervous system needs to take the lead.
Researchers wanted to determine whether the Dreampad could help shift the body toward this calmer, more restorative state.
To measure relaxation, researchers examined a marker known as Heart Rate Variability (HRV).
Contrary to what many people assume, a healthy heart does not beat with perfect regularity. The small variations between heartbeats provide important information about nervous system function.
Higher-quality HRV patterns are generally associated with:
The researchers specifically focused on a measurement called High Frequency Coupling (HFC), which reflects the relationship between breathing patterns and heart rate rhythms. Higher HFC levels are associated with stronger parasympathetic activity and a more relaxed physiological state.
The study included 13 healthy adults with no anxiety-related symptoms.
Participants first relaxed for 15 minutes without using the Dreampad while researchers collected physiological data. They then repeated the session while using the Dreampad under identical conditions. Complete data sets were collected from 11 participants.
Throughout the study, participants remained in the same semi-reclined position while researchers monitored changes in heart rate variability and cardiopulmonary coupling.
The results were encouraging.
According to the study, 82% of participants demonstrated significant improvements in High Frequency Coupling while using the Dreampad. Researchers also found a statistically significant overall improvement in HFC compared to baseline measurements.
In some participants, HFC improvements exceeded 100%, and several showed increases greater than 200% during Dreampad use. The charts presented in the study showed consistent upward trends across most participants.
These findings suggest that the Dreampad may help promote parasympathetic nervous system activity—the physiological state associated with calmness, recovery, and sleep readiness.
The body's relaxation response plays an important role in sleep quality.
When the nervous system remains in a heightened state of stress or alertness, it can become more difficult to:
Researchers noted that healthy sleep is closely connected to synchronized patterns between heart rate and breathing. When those systems are working together efficiently, the body is generally better positioned for restorative sleep.
The improvements in HFC observed during Dreampad use may indicate a more favorable physiological environment for relaxation and sleep.
While this study focused on physiological markers rather than sleep outcomes, the implications extend beyond bedtime.
A healthy parasympathetic response has been associated with:
These findings may help explain why clinicians and users have reported calming effects across a wide range of populations, including individuals with sleep difficulties, attention challenges, trauma histories, and developmental differences.
As with any pilot study, there are important limitations to consider.
The study involved a small sample of healthy adults and measured short-term physiological responses during a single session. It was not designed to evaluate long-term sleep outcomes or clinical treatment effectiveness.
While the results are promising, larger studies involving diverse populations are needed to better understand how these physiological changes translate into real-world improvements in sleep, stress management, and overall wellbeing.
Many sleep products rely solely on subjective reports of feeling calmer or sleeping better.
What makes this study unique is that researchers measured physiological markers associated with the body's relaxation response.
The findings showed that most participants experienced measurable improvements in heart rate variability and parasympathetic nervous system activity while using the Dreampad. These changes may help create a more favorable internal environment for relaxation, recovery, and healthy sleep.
While additional research is needed, this pilot study offers an intriguing glimpse into the biological mechanisms that may contribute to the calming effects many Dreampad users report.
Olson, K.L. (2014). Pilot Study: Measuring Relaxation Response to the iLs Dreampad. SleepImage Research.
This article summarizes findings from a small pilot study involving healthy adult participants. The study evaluated short-term physiological responses and was not designed to assess long-term clinical outcomes. Additional research is needed to confirm and expand upon these findings.