Measuring Rem Sleep: Jawbone's Unique Approach

Sleep is a complex and mysterious body process, and while we know that there are five stages of sleep, researchers are still unsure of the exact purpose of REM sleep. However, it is known that REM sleep is important for memory and overall functioning. One way to measure REM sleep is through a polysomnogram, which is a sleep study that uses an electroencephalogram (EEG) to diagnose sleep disorders. This method records brain waves, blood oxygen levels, heart rate, breathing, and eye and leg movements. Another way to measure REM sleep is through wearables or devices worn on the body, such as Fitbit, Garmin, and Apple Watch, which can detect sleep patterns, hygiene, and health. While these wearables are accessible, they have limited functions and are not as accurate as clinical sleep studies.

The Jawbone UP3 significantly overestimates total sleep time

The Jawbone UP3 is a multisensory, wrist-worn fitness tracker that uses a combination of accelerometry and heart rate detection to estimate sleep duration and efficiency, as well as classify sleep into various stages. While it has been marketed as a device that can help measure total sleep time, light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep, its accuracy has been called into question by several studies.

One study compared the Jawbone UP3 to polysomnography (PSG), the gold standard for sleep measurement, and found that the Jawbone UP3 significantly overestimated total sleep time by 39.6 minutes. This finding was consistent with previous investigations of wrist-worn sleep tracking devices, which have also shown an overestimation of total sleep time relative to PSG. The study also found that the Jawbone UP3 had poor specificity in accurately identifying wake epochs, which contributed to its overestimation of total sleep time.

Another study compared the Jawbone UP3 to PSG in a sleep clinic population and found that it overestimated total sleep time by 28.57 minutes, with a moderate degree of reliability for recording total sleep time. This study also found that the Jawbone UP3 overestimated sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset, but the magnitude of the difference was very small.

A third study evaluated the Jawbone UP3 against PSG in patients with reported hypersomnolence and found that it overestimated total sleep time by 20.5 minutes. This study also found that the Jawbone UP3 overestimated sleep efficiency, REM latency, total REM sleep time, light sleep, and deep sleep, while underestimating sleep onset latency and wake after sleep onset relative to PSG.

While the Jawbone UP3 has shown some promise in estimating total sleep time, the studies highlighted in this response consistently show that it significantly overestimates this metric. This overestimation is likely due to the device's poor specificity in accurately identifying wake epochs, as well as its reliance on movement and heart rate data, which may not provide sufficient clues about the different stages of sleep. Therefore, while the Jawbone UP3 may provide some useful insights into sleep patterns, it should not be relied upon as a substitute for PSG or other clinical evaluations of sleep.

The Jawbone UP3 is relatively good at detecting sleep epochs

The Jawbone UP3 is a multisensory fitness tracker that can be used to quantify and classify sleep in patients with suspected central disorders of hypersomnolence. In a study comparing the Jawbone UP3 to the gold standard polysomnography (PSG) test, the Jawbone UP3 demonstrated a significant overestimation of total sleep time relative to PSG. However, its ability to detect epochs of sleep was relatively good, with a sensitivity of 0.97. This indicates that the Jawbone UP3 is relatively accurate at detecting when a person is asleep, but it struggles to distinguish between the different stages of sleep.

The Jawbone UP3 uses a combination of accelerometry and heart rate detection to estimate sleep duration and classify sleep into various stages. While it performed well in estimating total sleep time, it struggled to distinguish between light sleep, deep sleep, and REM sleep. This is likely because the device relies primarily on movement and heart rate data, which can be similar during different sleep stages.

The study also found that the Jawbone UP3 performed comparably to a standard actigraph, the Actiwatch 2 (AW2), in estimating total sleep duration. This suggests that the Jawbone UP3 may have some utility as a lower-cost alternative to standard actigraphy for field-based estimates of sleep duration. However, it cannot be used as a surrogate for PSG in the clinical assessment of patients with suspected central disorders of hypersomnolence.

In summary, the Jawbone UP3 is relatively good at detecting sleep epochs, with a sensitivity of 0.97. However, it struggles to distinguish between different stages of sleep and cannot be used as a substitute for PSG in clinical settings.

The Jawbone UP3 is poor at distinguishing light, deep and REM sleep

The Jawbone UP3 is a sleek wristband tracker that can record your heart rate and provide health advice based on your habits. It has a secure fastener and a hypoallergenic TPU rubber strap. The Jawbone UP3 is built on an advanced multi-sensor platform that includes a tri-axis accelerometer and bioimpedance sensors. These sensors are used to measure the resistance of skin tissue to tiny electric currents.

However, the Jawbone UP3 has been criticised for its poor ability to distinguish between light, deep, and REM sleep. A study that evaluated the ability of the Jawbone UP3 to quantify and classify sleep in patients with suspected central disorders of hypersomnolence found that the device significantly overestimated total sleep time relative to polysomnography (PSG). Although the Jawbone UP3's ability to detect sleep was relatively good (sensitivity = 0.97), its ability to distinguish light, deep, and REM sleep was poor. Similarly, the device did not correctly identify a single sleep onset rapid eye movement (SOREMP) during any MSLT nap opportunity. As a result, the study concluded that the Jawbone UP3 cannot be used as a substitute for PSG or MSLT in the assessment of patients with suspected central disorders of hypersomnolence.

Another review of the Jawbone UP3 also noted that the device's sleep tracking capabilities were limited, particularly when it came to identifying REM sleep. The reviewer found that the periods of time allocated to each type of sleep were inaccurate, with no periods of awake time recorded despite the reviewer moving around during the night. While the reviewer noted that the Jawbone UP3's sleep tracking capabilities had improved with new firmware updates, they still found that the device was not able to accurately distinguish between light, deep, and REM sleep.

Overall, while the Jawbone UP3 has been praised for its design, battery life, and activity tracking capabilities, its ability to distinguish between light, deep, and REM sleep has been consistently criticised. The device has been found to overestimate total sleep time and underestimate wake after sleep onset relative to PSG, and its poor performance in detecting SOREMPs during MSLT naps further highlights its limitations in sleep classification. As a result, the Jawbone UP3 may not be suitable for those seeking a device that can accurately distinguish between different sleep stages.

The Jawbone UP3 cannot be used as a surrogate for PSG or MSLT

On the other hand, the Jawbone UP3 is a consumer-grade wearable device designed to track sleep patterns and provide insights into sleep quality. While it can detect sleep stages and movement during sleep, it does not have the same level of precision and comprehensiveness as PSG. The Jawbone UP3 may be more convenient and accessible, but it should not be considered a substitute for PSG in diagnosing or treating sleep disorders.

MSLT, or Multiple Sleep Latency Test, is a separate assessment that follows PSG. It evaluates excessive daytime sleepiness by measuring how quickly an individual falls asleep during the day and how soon they enter REM sleep. The MSLT involves a series of scheduled naps in a controlled environment, and it is used specifically to diagnose conditions like narcolepsy and idiopathic hypersomnia.

The Jawbone UP3, while capable of providing some insights into sleep patterns, cannot replace the comprehensive evaluation and diagnostic capabilities of PSG and MSLT. These clinical tests are conducted in controlled settings by trained professionals and provide detailed data that informs treatment decisions for various sleep disorders. Therefore, while the Jawbone UP3 may offer some basic sleep tracking features, it should not be considered a substitute for the medical expertise and comprehensive assessments provided by PSG and MSLT.

The Jawbone UP3 is comparable to a standard actigraph

The Jawbone UP3 is a fitness tracker that can be worn on the wrist. It is unique in that it uses bioimpedance sensors to monitor the user's heart rate. These sensors send electrical currents through the skin, similar to an electrocardiogram. The UP3 band also has a tri-axial accelerometer to measure movement and resting heart rate using bioelectrical impedance sensors. The monitor uses this information to provide feedback on step count, intensity, and resting heart rate. The Jawbone UP3 is comparable to a standard actigraph in that it also uses an accelerometer to track sleep patterns.

The Jawbone UP3 is a slim and stylish fitness tracker that set the standard for advanced features such as NFC payments, sleep tracking, and bioimpedance sensors for heart-rate tracking. The beautifully designed UP app for iOS and Android has thousands of positive reviews. The Jawbone UP3 band is also unique in that it uses bioimpedance sensors, which are thought to be more accurate than the optical sensors that have become standard in fitness bands.

The Jawbone UP3 has been found to be a valid measure of total sleep time and time in bed when compared to a sleep diary and other wearable trackers. It has been shown to have a high sensitivity (the ability to correctly identify sleep) and low specificity (the ability to correctly identify wake). The Jawbone UP3 resulted in closer approximations to self-reported sleep outcomes than a previously sleep research-grade device, offering a lower-cost alternative to tracking sleep in healthy populations.

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