NextSense Debuts Clinical-Grade Sleep Buds in Las Vegas
Brain-sensing consumer sleep technology took center stage at the Consumer Electronics Show (CES) 2025 in Las Vegas. Neurotechnology company NextSense debuted its new consumer brand, Tone, alongside its inaugural product, Tone Buds. Designed to address widespread sleep disruptions—such as the reported 65% of American adults who struggle to fall asleep and the 70 million individuals living with chronic sleep disorders—the clinical-grade electroencephalography (EEG) earbuds monitor and actively enhance nightly rest in real time, according to company announcements.
For millions of people, poor sleep is tightly linked to long-term health risks, including increased probabilities of heart disease, stroke, anxiety, depression, obesity, and cognitive decline.
Trading Wrist Sensors for Direct Brain Activity
Traditional consumer sleep trackers typically rely on photoplethysmography (PPG), measuring cardiovascular shifts through light sensors. Tone Buds instead integrate clinical-grade EEG technology to record electrical activity directly from the brain, capturing neural signatures that are the same kind of signals looked at if you get a sleep study in the lab.
“As a breeding ground for innovation, CES is the perfect opportunity to introduce Tone and our inaugural product, Tone Buds,” says Jonathan Berent, CEO and founder of NextSense, in a company release.
“Exhibiting brands are not only bringing new products to market but providing real opportunities to improve the way we live and advance humanity in meaningful ways. This ethos is at the core of who we are as a company, and we’re excited to be a part of the future of consumer technology.”
AI-Powered Closed-Loop Audio Interventions
Unlike standard wireless earbuds or passive wearables that merely log data for users to review the following morning, Tone Buds utilize an AI-powered, closed-loop audio system designed to respond dynamically to brain waves throughout the night. The system provides audio for falling asleep and sound-neutralizing tracks to help users stay asleep, as detailed in product disclosures.
When the earbuds detect stage N3 sleep—the deepest stage of non-rapid eye movement (non-REM) sleep—they deploy subtle, targeted pink noise stimulation. According to the company, this auditory stimulation augments the brain’s slow-wave activity, a technique linked to improved nightly restoration and brain health.
Decoding Sleep Stages Without Laboratory Visits
Caitlin Shure, MA, PhD, head of product at NextSense, notes that dominant brainwaves naturally slow down as an individual transitions into deep rest. By tapping directly into those electrical signals, the biosensing device can provide precise insights into sleep stage and depth without requiring laboratory visits.
Engineered for all-night comfort across various sleeping positions, Tone Buds combine everyday wireless earbud utility with sophisticated biosensing mechanics. Proper fit remains an essential onboarding step; app-guided adjustments help users select appropriate attachment sizes to ensure the embedded sensors maintain a strong signal to the brain.
By expanding access to clinical-grade neurological monitoring outside medical facilities, NextSense aims to bridge the gap between simple sleep tracking and actionable physiological improvement.
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