The Flicker Trigger™: How It Works

Understanding SomniCue's Signature Feature

The Flicker Trigger™ is our patent-pending gesture technology that lets you mark important concepts for priority replay during sleep. Here's how it works and why it's so effective.

The Problem: Not All Memories Are Equal

When studying, you encounter varying levels of difficulty:

• Some concepts click immediately
• Others require more effort to understand
• A few are genuine "breakthrough" moments

Standard TMR treats all memories equally, but your brain doesn't. The Flicker Trigger lets you signal which moments deserve extra reinforcement.

How the Flicker Trigger Works

Step 1: Detection

When you're in Study Mode, SomniCue monitors your device's accelerometer. A quick shake of your wrist (or phone) triggers the system.

Step 2: Randomized Delay

Instead of playing a cue immediately, SomniCue waits 1-5 seconds (randomized). This prevents your conscious mind from "expecting" the cue, which research shows reduces effectiveness.

Step 3: Cue Delivery

After the delay, your chosen sound and/or haptic cue plays, creating a strong association between the trigger moment and the sensory cue.

Step 4: Priority Tagging

The system logs this as a "flicker moment" with timestamp. During sleep, these tagged moments receive priority in the cue delivery queue.

Step 5: Sleep Replay

When you enter deep sleep, flicker-tagged items are replayed first and more frequently than standard items.

Why the Randomized Delay Matters

Research in memory formation shows that predictable cues are less effective than unexpected ones. The brain pays more attention to surprising stimuli. By randomizing the delay:

• Each cue feels "fresh" to your brain
• You can't consciously anticipate and dismiss it
• The memory encoding is stronger

Best Practices for Using Flicker Trigger

Do Use It For:

• Breakthrough understanding moments
• Difficult concepts that finally click
• High-yield exam material
• Information you keep forgetting

Don't Overuse It:

• Triggering too often dilutes effectiveness
• Aim for 5-15 triggers per study session
• Focus on quality over quantity

Tracking Your Triggers

SomniCue's analytics show how many Flicker Triggers you've used, when they were activated, and which items received priority replay. Use this data to refine your study strategy over time.