Method and apparatus for brain fingerprinting, measurement, assessment and analysis of brain function

• US 20020188217A1
• Filed: 06/07/2002
• Published: 12/12/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 06/07/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Brainwave Science Incorporated, Central Intelligence Agency, Defense Counterintelligence and Security Agency, Forensic Science Laboratory Delhi, Francis Luca Conte, Prime Technology Incorporated (General Dynamics Corporation), Government of New Zealand, Government of the United States of America, Harvard University, Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, National Center For Credibility Assessment, Republic of India, The Republic of South Africa, Ukraine, United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland, Federal Bureau of Investigation (United States Department of Justice), University of Canterbury, University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign (University of Illinois), University of Washington, United States Navy (U.S. Department Of Defense)
• Original Assignee: American Science Innovations, LLC
• Inventors: Farwell, Lawrence
• Granted Patent: US 7,689,272 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0006 ECG or EEG signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/164 Lie detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia

Abstract

Electrical signals originating in the brain are measured and analyzed. In one embodiment, this technology serves to assess brain functioning as a means to evaluate cognitive functioning, to detect cognitive deficits such as those brought about by Alzheimer'"'"'s, and to assess the efficacy of treatments for cognitive disorders. In another embodiment, which is an improvement on technology previously patented by the inventor, this technology serves to detect information in the brain as a means of detecting participation in specific organizations, acts, or criminal activity. In a third embodiment, this technology serves to evaluate the effectiveness of advertising, educational and training presentations by detecting the attention, information processing, and memory-related responses to these presentations as revealed by brain waves.

Claims

1. A method of detecting information stored in the brain of a subject comprising:

presenting to said subject stimuli including;

“

probe”

stimuli relevant to a situation under investigation for effecting in said subject a specific brain response when said subject has knowledge thereof;

“

irrelevant”

stimuli not relevant to said situation; and

“

target”

stimuli identified to said subject as being noteworthy,

assigning a task that involves discriminating between target stimuli and other stimuli and communicating this discrimination through an overt response;

detecting an electrical brain response from said subject in response to each of said stimuli;

analyzing said electrical brain responses for uncovering said specific brain response therein; and

comparing said electrical brain responses due to said probe, irrelevant, and target stimuli for detecting the presence or absence of said information in said subject'"'"'s brain based on the presence or absence of said specific brain response in response to said probe stimuli,

wherein said analyzing and comparing of said electrical brain responses include at least one of the following techniques;

bootstrapping on unweighted double-centered correlations;

bootstrapping on single-centered correlations;

bootstrapping on positive areas under a part of the brain-response waveform;

bootstrapping on negative areas under a part of the brain-response waveform;

bootstrapping on a combination of positive and negative areas under different parts of the brain-response waveform;

bootstrapping on positive peaks;

bootstrapping on negative peaks;

bootstrapping on the difference between positive and negative peaks;

covariance with a template;

correlation with a template;

stepwise linear discriminant analysis;

dynamical systems (chaos) analysis;

bootstrapping on the frequency spectra.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein said target stimuli, like said probe stimuli, are relevant to said situation under investigation.

13. A method according to claim 1 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

14. A method according to claim 2 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

25. A method according to claim 1 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

26. A method according to claim 2 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

72. A method according to claim 1 wherein at least one of said techniques is applied to data from two or more scalp locations, and the results are combined in said analyzing and said comparing of brain responses.

3. A method of detecting information stored in the brain of a subject comprising:

presenting to said subject stimuli including;

probe stimuli relevant to a situation under investigation for effecting in said subject a specific brain response when said subject has knowledge thereof;

irrelevant stimuli not relevant to said situation; and

target stimuli identified to said subject as being noteworthy,

assigning a task that involves discriminating between target stimuli and other stimuli and communicating this discrimination through an overt response;

detecting an electrical brain response from said subject in response to each of said stimuli;

analyzing said electrical brain responses for uncovering said specific brain response therein; and

comparing said electrical brain responses due to said probe, irrelevant, and target stimuli for detecting the presence or absence of said information in said subject'"'"'s brain based on the presence or absence of said specific brain response in response to said probe stimuli,

wherein said information stored in the brain comprises specific information regarding at least one of the following;

training in activities related to organized crime and the commission of large-scale organized crimes;

information that can be expected to be known by trained criminals who are members of a criminal organization and by experts in the field, and not by the general public;

details of specific, known large-scale crimes that can be expected to be known by the following people;

not only by those who perpetrated the crimes;

but also

by individuals who were involved in at least one of two ways;

conceiving the crimes and planning the crimes, and yet who avoided any direct participation in actually carrying out the crimes;

and by those who are investigating the crimes;

and not known by the general public, i.e., people who have no connection to said large-scale crimes.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein said target stimuli, like said probe stimuli, are relevant to said situation under investigation.

15. A method according to claim 3 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

16. A method according to claim 4 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

27. A method according to claim 3 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

28. A method according to claim 4 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

5. A method of detecting information stored in the brain of a subject comprising:

presenting to said subject stimuli including;

probe stimuli relevant to a situation under investigation for effecting in said subject a specific brain response when said subject has knowledge thereof;

irrelevant stimuli not relevant to said situation; and

target stimuli identified to said subject as being noteworthy,

assigning a task that involves discriminating between target stimuli and other stimuli and communicating this discrimination through an overt response;

detecting an electrical brain response from said subject in response to each of said stimuli;

analyzing said electrical brain responses for uncovering said specific brain response therein; and

comparing said electrical brain responses due to said probe, irrelevant, and target stimuli for detecting the presence or absence of said information in said subject'"'"'s brain based on the presence or absence of said specific brain response in response to said probe stimuli,

wherein said method includes analyzing at least one of the following in order to seek the optimum methods, modalities, and parameters for stimulus presentation and experimental design, and including the results of said analyzing in the method practiced;

modalities of presentation, including at least one of visual words, pictorial stimuli, auditory words, and simultaneous auditory and visual presentation;

in the auditory modality, the time course, and phonological, and semantic complexity of the stimuli;

in the visual pictorial modality, the size, luminance, complexity, content, and composition of the stimuli;

in the visual linguistic modality, the phonological, visual, and semantic complexity of the stimuli;

length and time course of stimulus presentation;

size, font, color, and luminance of the stimuli;

at least one of the minimum, maximum, and optimum time course of stimulus events;

the number of stimuli required;

the number of repetitions of each stimulus;

the number and timing of blocks of stimuli;

stimulus duration;

interstimulus interval; and

stimulus onset asynchrony.

6. A method according to claim 5 wherein said target stimuli, like said probe stimuli, are relevant to said situation under investigation.

17. A method according to claim 5 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

18. A method according to claim 6 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

29. A method according to claim 5 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

30. A method according to claim 6 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

7. A method of detecting information stored in the brain of a subject comprising:

presenting to said subject stimuli including;

probe stimuli relevant to a situation under investigation for effecting in said subject a specific brain response when said subject has knowledge thereof;

irrelevant stimuli not relevant to said situation; and

target stimuli identified to said subject as being noteworthy,

assigning a task that involves discriminating between target stimuli and other stimuli and communicating this discrimination through an overt response;

detecting an electrical brain response from said subject in response to each of said stimuli;

analyzing said electrical brain responses for uncovering said specific brain response therein; and

comparing said electrical brain responses due to said probe, irrelevant, and target stimuli for detecting the presence or absence of said information in said subject'"'"'s brain based on the presence or absence of said specific brain response in response to said probe stimuli,

wherein said method includes all of the following three features;

presenting stimuli and collecting data using a computer at a local site where the subject is located;

communicating in real time with a remote site which has at least one of advanced data analysis capabilities and the availability of additional expert personnel;

conducting analysis of brain responses at said remote site,

and at least one of the following three features;

transmitting from said local site to said remote site information regarding brain responses;

transmitting from said remote site instructions regarding the implementation of the test;

transmitting from said remote site information for structuring the stimuli for the test;

transmitting from said remote site to said local site video signals;

transmitting from said remote site to said local site audio signals;

transmitting from said local site to said remote site video signals;

transmitting from said local site to said remote site audio signals.

8. A method according to claim 7 wherein said target stimuli, like said probe stimuli, are relevant to said situation under investigation.

9. A method according to claim 7 wherein said communication is accomplished using at least one of telephone, radio, satellite, the internet, and a virtual private network.

10. A method according to claim 8 wherein said communication is accomplished using at least one of telephone, radio, satellite, the internet, and a virtual private network.

19. A method according to claim 7 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

20. A method according to claim 8 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

21. A method according to claim 9 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

22. A method according to claim 10 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

31. A method according to claim 7 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

32. A method according to claim 8 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

33. A method according to claim 9 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

34. A method according to claim 10 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

38. A method according to claim 37 wherein the cognitive difficulty of said cognitive task is systematically manipulated, and the effect of such manipulation on said brain responses is measured.

39. A method according to claim 37 wherein the timing of said brain responses is measured, and said evaluation is accomplished using metrics that include differences in the time course of said responses.

40. A method according to claim 38 wherein the time course of said brain responses is measured, and said evaluation is accomplished using metrics that include differences in said time course.

41. A method according to claim 39 wherein said brain responses are event-related brain potentials.

42. A method according to claim 40 wherein said brain responses are event-related brain potentials.

43. A method according to claim 41 wherein said brain responses include a P300 component.

44. A method according to claim 42 wherein said brain responses include a P300 component.

45. A method according to claim 39 wherein said brain responses include a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

46. A method according to claim 40 wherein said brain responses include a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

47. A method according to claim 37 wherein the analysis of said brain responses includes frequency-domain analysis.

48. A method according to claim 38 wherein the analysis of said brain responses includes frequency-domain and analysis.

49. A method according to claim 47 wherein the analysis of said brain responses includes a combination of frequency-domain and time-domain analysis.

50. A method according to claim 48 wherein the analysis of said brain responses includes a combination of frequency-domain and time-domain analysis.

51. A method according to claim 37 wherein the analysis of said brain responses includes dynamical systems analysis, also known as chaos analysis.

52. A method according to claim 38 wherein the analysis of said brain responses includes dynamical systems analysis, also known as chaos analysis.

53. A method according to claim 38 wherein said cognitive task includes recognizing and responding to items in a memory set, and the difficulty of said cognitive task is manipulated by varying the number of items in said memory set.

54. A method according to claim 38 wherein said cognitive task includes recognizing and responding to items relevant to life experiences of the subject, and the difficulty of said cognitive task is manipulated by varying factors affecting memorability of items.

55. A method according to claim 38 wherein said cognitive task involves classifying and differentially responding to items according to a classification rule, and the difficulty of said cognitive task is manipulated by at least one of varying the classification rule, varying the items to be classified, varying the number of items to be classified, and varying the type of items to be classified.

57. A method according to claim 56 wherein said advertising presentations comprise at least one of

discrete images presented on a screen controlled by a computer, and

moving video images.

58. A method according to claim 57 wherein said advertising presentations also include sound presented simultaneously with the video images.

60. A method according to claim 59 wherein said information-dissemination presentations comprise at least one of

discrete images presented on a screen controlled by a computer;

and

moving video images.

61. A method according to claim 60 wherein said information-dissemination presentations include sound presented simultaneously with the video images.

11. A method of detecting information stored in the brain of a subject comprising:

presenting to said subject stimuli including;

probe stimuli relevant to a situation under investigation for effecting in said subject a specific brain response when said subject has knowledge thereof;

irrelevant stimuli not relevant to said situation; and

target stimuli identified to said subject as being noteworthy,

assigning a task that involves discriminating between target stimuli and other stimuli and communicating this discrimination through an overt response;

detecting an electrical brain response from said subject in response to each of said stimuli;

analyzing said electrical brain responses for uncovering said specific brain response therein; and

comparing said electrical brain responses due to said probe, irrelevant, and target stimuli for detecting the presence or absence of said information in said subject'"'"'s brain based on the presence or absence of said specific brain response in response to said probe stimuli,

wherein said method includes, in at least one of the selection of stimuli and data analysis, consideration of factors that may affect memorability of events, including at least one of the following;

time elapsed since the events relevant to said situation under investigation;

level of participation of the subject in said event;

repetitions of exposure to the stimulus material;

salience of stimulus material;

complexity of information;

relationship of relevant information with other well-recalled information;

episodic versus semantic memory;

affect at the time of encoding;

personal relevance of information involved in stimuli;

self-referral quality of information involved in stimuli;

the degree to which information involved in stimuli is action related;

the degree to which information involved in stimuli is consequential.

12. A method according to claim 11 wherein said target stimuli, like said probe stimuli, are relevant to said situation under investigation.

23. A method according to claim 11 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

24. A method according to claim 12 wherein said specific brain response includes a P3 component.

35. A method according to claim 11 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

36. A method according to claim 12 wherein said specific brain response includes a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response.

37. A method of assessing at least one of the following:

cognitive functioning;

cognitive deficits;

efficacy of treatments for cognitive deficits;

mental deterioration due to disease processes;

mental deterioration due to trauma;

mental deterioration due to aging;

mental deterioration due to Alzheimer'"'"'s disease; and

efficacy of treatments for said mental deterioration;

comprising;

assigning a task that has cognitive and non-cognitive aspects;

measuring behavioral output of said task and the timing of said output;

measuring and analyzing brain responses that provide an index of specific cognitive processes;

evaluating cognitive functioning and deficits on the basis of said brain responses.

56. A method for assessing the effectiveness of advertising comprising

presenting visual advertising presentations to subjects;

measuring brain responses to specific portions of said advertising presentations;

analyzing said brain responses to determine the level of attention paid by subjects;

wherein said analysis includes at least one of

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

and assessing the effectiveness of said advertising presentations on the basis of the level of attention elicited by said advertising presentations, as measured by said brain responses.

59. A method for assessing the effectiveness of information-dissemination presentations designed for at least one of the following purposes:

education and training, comprising;

presenting information-dissemination presentations to subjects visually;

measuring brain responses to specific portions said presentations;

analyzing said brain responses to determine the level of attention paid by subjects;

wherein said analysis includes at least one of

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

and assessing the effectiveness of said presentations on the basis of the level of attention elicited by said advertising presentations, as measured by said brain responses.

62. A method for assessing the effectiveness of advertising comprising:

presenting visual advertising presentations to subjects;

measuring brain responses to specific portions of said advertising presentations;

analyzing said brain responses to measure specific cognitive information-processing processes;

wherein said analysis includes at least one of

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

and assessing the effectiveness of said advertising presentations on the basis of the cognitive information-processing processes elicited by said advertising presentations, as measured by said brain responses.

63. A method according to claim 62 wherein said advertising presentations comprise at least one of

discrete images presented on a screen controlled by a computer;

and

moving video images.

64. A method according to claim 63 wherein said advertising presentations also include sound presented simultaneously with the video images.

65. A method for assessing the effectiveness of information-dissemination presentations designed for at least one of the following purposes:

education and training, comprising

presenting information dissemination presentations to subjects visually;

measuring brain responses to specific portions said presentations;

analyzing said brain responses to measure specific cognitive information-processing processes;

wherein said analysis includes at least one of

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

and assessing the effectiveness of said information-dissemination presentations on the basis of the cognitive information-processing processes elicited by said presentations, as measured by said brain responses.

66. A method according to claim 65 wherein said information-dissemination presentations comprise at least one of

discrete images presented on a screen controlled by a computer;

and

moving video images.

67. A method according to claim 66 wherein said information-dissemination presentations also include sound presented simultaneously with the video images.

68. A method for assessing the effectiveness of advertising presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items through

presenting said advertising presentations to a subject in a visual display under computer control;

recording the specific time at which each critical item is displayed;

recording brain responses to said critical items;

analyzing said brain responses, wherein said analysis includes at least one of the following;

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

evaluating the effectiveness of said advertising presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items on the basis of said brain responses and the analysis thereof.

69. A method for assessing the effectiveness of information-dissemination presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items through

presenting said advertising presentations to a subject in a visual display under computer control;

recording the specific time at which each critical item is displayed;

recording brain responses to said critical items;

analyzing said brain responses, wherein said analysis includes at least one of the following;

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

evaluating the effectiveness of said advertising presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items on the basis of said brain responses and the analysis thereof.

70. A method for assessing the effectiveness of advertising presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items through

exposing a subject to said advertising presentations, including specific critical items;

at a later time, exposing said subject to said critical items on a display under computer control;

recording the specific time at which each critical item is displayed;

recording brain responses to said critical items;

analyzing said brain responses, wherein said analysis includes at least one of the following;

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

evaluating the effectiveness of said advertising presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items on the basis of said brain responses and the analysis thereof.

71. A method for assessing the effectiveness of information-dissemination presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items through

exposing a subject to said advertising presentations, including specific critical items;

at a later time, exposing said subject to said critical items on a display under computer control;

recording the specific time at which each critical item is displayed;

recording brain responses to said critical items;

analyzing said brain responses, wherein said analysis includes at least one of the following;

event-related brain potentials;

multifaceted electroencephalographic response analysis;

dynamical systems analysis;

frequency-domain analysis;

combined time-domain and frequency-domains analysis;

detection of a P300; and

detection of a memory and encoding related multifaceted electroencephalographic response;

evaluating the effectiveness of said advertising presentations in creating salience and memorability of critical items on the basis of said brain responses and the analysis thereof.