Study Profile
| Authors | Schmid G.B., Hackl W., Gfatter F., Grill C., Gmeiner C., Grill A. |
| Institution | Medical University of Vienna, Austria |
| Journal | British Journal of Anaesthesia (Elsevier, IF ≈ 10) |
| Year | 2020 |
| DOI | 10.1016/j.bja.2020.06.028 |
| PubMed | PMID 32653082 |
| Product | MindLights |
| Design | Randomized Controlled Trial (RCT) |
| Participants | 49 children (6 months – 8 years) |
What was investigated?
Researchers at the Medical University of Vienna investigated whether audiovisual brainwave entrainment during anesthesia could reduce the need for propofol (a commonly used anesthetic agent) in children. The idea: targeted light and sound stimuli guide the brain into a deeper state of relaxation, so that less medication is needed to achieve adequate depth of anesthesia.
Methods
In this randomized controlled trial, 49 children aged 6 months to 8 years were studied while undergoing minor surgical procedures under general anesthesia. The children were randomly assigned to two groups:
- Intervention group (n=24): Audiovisual brainwave entrainment with the MindLights system throughout the anesthesia
- Control group (n=25): Standard anesthesia without additional stimulation
All children received propofol-based anesthesia (Total Intravenous Anaesthesia, TIVA). The primary endpoint was the rate of propofol consumption (mg/kg/h). Depth of anesthesia was monitored using the Bispectral Index (BIS).
Mindfield product in this study
The researchers used the MindLights system by Mindfield Biosystems. This device generates audiovisual stimulation patterns (brainwave entrainment) delivered through special glasses and headphones. The light and sound frequencies are modulated to guide brainwave activity toward deeper states of relaxation.
Results
Primary endpoint – Propofol consumption: The intervention group required only 3.0 mg/kg/h propofol on average, compared to 4.2 mg/kg/h in the control group. This represents a 29% reduction (p < 0.001).
Secondary endpoints:
- Both groups showed comparable BIS values, indicating adequate depth of anesthesia despite lower propofol dosing
- No adverse events were associated with the MindLights system
- Wake-up time tended to be shorter in the intervention group
Significance
This study was published in the British Journal of Anaesthesia, one of the most prestigious journals in anesthesiology (Impact Factor ≈ 10). The results suggest that audiovisual brainwave entrainment with MindLights may offer a non-pharmacological approach to reduce anesthetic requirements in pediatric procedures.
A nearly one-third reduction in propofol consumption is clinically significant: less anesthetic potentially means fewer side effects, faster recovery, and lower costs. The study was conducted independently by the Medical University of Vienna without involvement from Mindfield Biosystems.
Original publication in British Journal of Anaesthesia: