publications

2026

1. STM

   Closed-loop auditory stimulation in phase with slow waves during sleep enhances cerebrospinal fluid flow in humans

   Joshua Levitt, Xiangjian Zeng, Zinong Yang, and 2 more authors

   Science Translational Medicine, Sep 2026

   Abs DOI Bib HTML Website

   Cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) is a key component of healthy brain function, constantly circulating to maintain brain homeostasis. Large waves of CSF flow appear in nonrapid eye movement (NREM) sleep, and these CSF flow waves are associated with neural slow waves in the electroencephalogram (EEG). Whether neural slow waves are causally linked to CSF flow, and whether this flow can be enhanced, is not yet established. We developed a technique for performing closed-loop auditory stimulation of sleep slow waves with simultaneous magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) using real-time denoising and a neural network-based strategy for stimulus targeting. We first established that our technique could increase EEG slow waves during sleep inside the MRI scanner in healthy adults. We then found that closed-loop auditory stimulation during sleep caused increased CSF flow waves. Furthermore, this CSF flow effect was phase dependent and only apparent when auditory stimuli were aligned with slow-wave peaks. Widespread hemodynamic waves were also elicited by the stimulus, suggesting a brain-wide modulation contributing to this CSF flow effect. This work demonstrates that closed-loop slow-wave neurofeedback causes waves of CSF flow and provides a technique for simultaneous modulation and imaging of CSF flow during sleep that can next be explored as a potential translational tool in clinical populations.

   @article{levitt2026csf,
     title = {Closed-loop auditory stimulation in phase with slow waves during sleep enhances cerebrospinal fluid flow in humans},
     author = {Levitt, Joshua and Zeng, Xiangjian and Yang, Zinong and Jacob, Leandro P. L. and Lewis, Laura D.},
     journal = {Science Translational Medicine},
     volume = {18},
     number = {866},
     pages = {eaea5469},
     year = {2026},
     month = sep,
     doi = {10.1126/scitranslmed.aea5469},
   }

2025

1. SfN

   Auditory Stimulation During Sleep Modulates CSF Flow via Dual Slow-Wave and High Frequency Pathways

   Xiangjian Zeng, J. Levitt, and Laura D. Lewis

   In Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Nov 2025

2024

1. Review

   Dynamic gating of perceptual flexibility by non-classically responsive neurons

   J. Toth, B. Sidleck, O. Lombardi, and 10 more authors

   Manuscript in review, Nov 2024
2. SfN

   Contributions and synaptic basis of diverse cortical neuron response to flexible task performance

   Xiangjian Zeng, J. Toth, B. F. Albana, and 1 more author

   In Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Oct 2024
3. COSYNE

   Contributions and synaptic basis of diverse cortical neuron response to flexible task performance

   Xiangjian Zeng, G. Yu, B. F. Albana, and 1 more author

   In Computational and Systems Neuroscience, Mar 2024

2023

1. SfN

   Dynamic gating of perceptual flexibility by diverse cortical responses

   T. Hou, J. Toth, B. Sidleck, and 10 more authors

   In Society for Neuroscience Annual Meeting, Mar 2023
2. ISDT

   Automated Photonic Waveguide Loss Measurement using Out-scattering Light Method

   Xiangjian Zeng, J. Reddy, and M. Chamanzar

   In Integrated Systems Design and Technology Conference 2023 book proceedings, Mar 2023

2021

1. NANS

   RLS Harmonic Powerline Noise Cancellation in Radial Nerve Recording

   Xiangjian Zeng, I. Lerman, Y. Bu, and 1 more author

   In North American Neuromodulation Society Virtual Meeting, Jan 2021
2. NANS

   Capturing the Magnetic Signature of Small Fiber Neuronal Activity

   Y. Bu, I. Lerman, A. Borna, and 7 more authors

   In North American Neuromodulation Society Virtual Meeting, Jan 2021