Now, a 'nightcap' with cold water to beat insomnia

US researchers have devised a cap that can help calm over-active minds to knock off insomnia.

The cap is filled with tubes of chilled water that cools the brain, allowing the wearer to switch off and get a good night sleep.

In a study, insomniacs who wore the "nightcap" slept just as well as those without the condition.

The cap works by cooling a part of the brain called the pre-frontal cortex, which lies just below the forehead.

In those who have no trouble dropping off at night, the pre-frontal cortex slows down, but in insomniacs it speeds up.

The study found that insomniacs put to bed with caps filled with the cold water slept 89% of the time they were in bed and nodded off three minutes earlier than those who had no trouble sleeping.

The finding was presented in the American Academy of Sleep Medicine's annual conference.