The Apollo Neuro is a wearable that promises to improve focus, sleep and energy. The small device vibrates in soothing patterns that the brand claims activates your parasympathetic nervous system and increases heart rate variability, which is indicative of a healthy body.
Preliminary research on the device has shown a 19% increase in deep and REM sleep, and increased focus, among other benefits.
Reduces Stress
The wearable, which can be worn on the wrist or ankle, is supposed to send you a series of vibrations that activate your parasympathetic nervous system (also known as the “rest-and-digest” branch), which helps take the body out of a state of chronic stress and high heart rate variability. This allegedly allows the body to recover more quickly from exercise, illness, challenging work demands, and psychosocial stressors.
The company has a number of clinical trials, real-world results, and research publications on its website. However, many of these studies are small-scale and do not provide enough detail about the study or its participants to be considered scientifically credible.
Plus, many of the studies listed on the site list an Apollo Neuro co-founder as an author, which also raises suspicions about their legitimacy. A more trustworthy conclusion, especially for experimental wellness products, would be along the lines of: “These early findings are promising but more research needs to be done.” That said, we’re glad that Apollo Neuro has taken steps to validate its device and provides a money-back guarantee to customers.
Improves Sleep
The device is small enough to wear on your wrist, ankle, or clipped onto your chest or spine (the latter is its newest enhancement). It feels like a gentle hug for your nervous system. Its maker claims it will improve sleep, help you relax and focus during the day, and make it easier to fall asleep at night.
The company backs up its claims with an impressive amount of research on its website, though many of the studies cited have not been published or peer-reviewed. Some are preliminary results, and others list Apollo Neuro co-founder Dave Rabin as one of the authors.
Users who follow Apollo’s recommended schedule of using it for several hours a day throughout the day and evening report positive results. However, it can take time to feel the benefits of the device. Like exercise or any new habit, the effects will kick in after consistent use over a period of weeks or even months.
Increases Focus
Apollo Neuro uses low-frequency sound waves felt as soothing vibrations to strengthen and rebalance the autonomic nervous system, improve sleep, focus and energy, and build stress resilience. Developed by physicians and neuroscientists at The University of Pittsburgh, the wearable can be worn as a band on the wrist or ankle, or as a clip attached to clothing.
The device’s vibration patterns are mathematical translations of proven signals that increase or decrease parasympathetic activity, which can help your body recover from emotional, physical, and psychological stressors. In a recent study, participants with Apollo Neuro displayed greater improvements in heart rate variability (HRV), a key marker for resilience to stress, than those who didn’t use the device. In addition, both new and experienced meditators were able to access deeper meditative states faster with Apollo Neuro.
Increases Energy
Apollo Neuro uses low-frequency inaudible sound waves, felt as a soothing vibration, to rebalance and strengthen the nervous system. This enables the body to access natural states of balance, like in deep breathing and meditation. This helps your body to become more resilient to stress over time.
This is done by utilizing specific vibration patterns that up-regulate your parasympathetic nervous system, which calms the body and relaxes the mind. This shift from the fight-or-flight to rest-and-digest mode is known to improve sleep, increase energy and boost focus.
In addition, regular use of the device is known to increase heart rate variability (HRV), a measurement of your body’s ability to regulate stress, over time. Using the app or buttons on the device, you can adjust the intensity of the vibrations from calming to wakeful and focus. This allows you to find the right intensity for your individual needs. This is why the device works so well for people with anxiety, insomnia or chronic pain.