Electric dreams? Reviewing Neurovalens Modius Sleep device

Ian Bolland had the opportunity to try out Neurovalens' Modius Sleep device. 

There are times when I can be the world’s greatest sleeper and times when I’m not. So, of course, I was going to take the opportunity to test a device that could help me have better quality of sleep and encourage me to fall asleep earlier, and for longer, so long as there wasn’t an alarm clock going off at the side of myself to disturb me from the prolonged bliss.

Modius Sleep works with a headset which is worn for 30 minutes before bed and sends electrical pulses into the vestibular nerve that influences the areas of the hypothalamus and brain stem that controls the circadian rhythm and sleep patterns.

Electrodes are provided to attach to the device, as are wipes to clean where you place the electrode pads, enabling it to stick better.

After the prototype of Modius Sleep arrived, one thing I was fascinated about was the headset’s remote control from the smartphone which I downloaded the app too – note I was advised to use the app accompanying Modius’s weight loss headset given the device’s status.

When reading the instructions it felt like quite a process you go through to prepare yourself to operate the device. The app itself is helpful as it takes through the step-by-step guide of installing the electrodes, cleaning the area you place it on (behind the back of the ear on that boney part of your head – they’ve found a use for that!), and pairing it with your phone via Bluetooth – it’s from here that you turn the Modius Sleep on and off.

I began using the device in my first full week back at work following the Christmas break. I’m sure everyone has a challenge getting back into the routine you had before the Christmas break which may or may not have seen later nights and slight alterations to one’s diet – or in the case of this writer, the look of the first pregnant male to bless Planet Earth.

I’m not quite sure whether it was from the novelty of using the device for the first time – or because of a tiring day as I got back into the swing of things– but tiredness was certainly apparent after the first half hour session. One thing I will say is that it felt like I had slight earache after first use, maybe it’s case of adaptation, or winter lurgy? But as for the sleep itself, it was unbroken and I definitely did not want to wake up when my alarm went. It was a noticeably good sleep.

It was notable, too, in the following days but I wasn’t sure if that was some sort of placebo effect or the dark nights of winter – probably both! As you apply the device, if you pay enough attention and you can hear a slight beep as it is active – once you get used it you can barely feel the electrodes doing their job.

I did try and break it up with the occasional night off just to see whether it was an underlying effect from the device. One night it felt as though my sleep wasn’t great and had to step it up a level for following day – which was probably the best night’s sleep I had with Modius Sleep. Though after a couple of days of having it a higher level, I felt the effects of tiredness throughout the day.

Maybe that’s a lesson to me, and to anyone using the device, that everyone has to find their level when using it. Hopefully then you’ll get your ideal kind of sleep – if you haven’t already and therefore failed to make it to the end of this review.