Systems and methods for facilitating physiological coherence using respiration training

• US 20050124906A1
• Filed: 11/04/2004
• Published: 06/09/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 03/01/1999
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Quantum Intech, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Quantum Intech, Inc.
• Inventors: Atkinson, Michael A., McCraty, Rollin I., Childre, Doc L.
• Granted Patent: US 7,117,032 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/529
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/02405 Determining heart rate variability
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0816 Measuring devices for examining respiratory frequency measuring frequency of electric signals G01R23/00
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/162 Testing reaction times
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/165 Evaluating the state of mind, e.g. depression, anxiety
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4029 for evaluating the peripheral nervous systems A61B5/24 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/486 Bio-feedback A61B5/375 takes precedence

Abstract

Systems and methods for facilitating physiological coherence using respiratory training are disclosed. In one embodiment, an optimal respiratory cycle and/or RSA pattern is determined. A subject is then trained to adhere to this optimal respiratory level using one or more breath indicators. In another embodiment, the timing sequence of the breath indicators is optimized for a given subject'"'"'s reaction time and/or atypical breathing events. In yet another embodiment, a subject'"'"'s respiratory rhythms are used to detect their emotional state and corresponding feedback provided.

Claims

1. A method for improving human emotional states comprising:

monitoring a subject'"'"'s respiration;

determining one or more current breathing patterns for said subject, said one or more current breathing patterns to include at least one of a current respiratory cycle and a current respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern;

determining one or more optimal breathing patterns for said subject, said one or more optimal breathing patterns to include at least one of an optimal respiratory cycle and an optimal respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern;

prompting said subject to take a breath at a specific time to cause said one or more current breathing patterns to approximate said one or more optimal breathing patterns; and

,

providing feedback to said subject representative of said subject'"'"'s emotional state.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein determining said one or more optimal breathing patterns comprises determining said one or more optimal breathing patterns where said one or more optimal breathing patterns are based on heart rate variability.

3. The method of claim 1 wherein prompting comprising prompting said subject to take the breath at the specific time using a breath indicator.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein prompting comprises prompting said subject using said breath indicator where said breath indicator is at least one of a visual indicator, an audio indicator and a tactile indicator.

5. The method of claim 3 further comprising calibrating said breath indicator based on the reaction time of said subject.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein calibrating comprises calibrating said breath indicator dynamically based on the reaction time of said subject such that a timing sequence of said breath indicator adjusts as a function of said subject'"'"'s reaction time.

7. The method of claim 1 wherein providing feedback comprises providing feedback to said subject where said feedback is a target-oriented visual presentation responsive to said one or more current breathing patterns.

8. The method of claim 7 wherein providing feedback comprises providing feedback to said subject using the target-oriented visual presentation, wherein said target-oriented visual presentation converges on a target pattern as said one or more current breathing patterns converge on said one or more optimal breathing patterns.

9. The method of claim 1 wherein further comprising improving said subject'"'"'s physiological coherency using said prompting and said providing feedback.

10. The method of claim 1 wherein said one or more current breathing patterns reflect a current emotional state of said subject.

11. The method of claim 1 wherein providing feedback comprises providing feedback to said subject in the form of a gaming event.

12. A system for improving human emotional states comprising:

a means for monitoring a subject'"'"'s respiration;

a means for determining one or more current breathing patterns for said subject, said one or more current breathing patterns to include at least one of a current respiratory cycle and a current respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern;

a means for determining one or more optimal breathing patterns for said subject, said one or more optimal breathing patterns to include at least one of an optimal respiratory cycle and an optimal respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern;

a breath indicator to prompt said subject to take a breath at a specific time to cause said one or more current breathing patterns to approximate said one or more optimal breathing patterns; and

,

a display to provide feedback to said subject representative of said subject'"'"'s emotional state.

13. The system of claim 12 wherein said means for determining said one or more optimal breathing patterns comprises means for determining said one or more optimal breathing patterns where said one or more optimal breathing patterns are based on heart rate variability.

14. The system of claim 12 wherein said breath indicator is at least one of a visual indicator, an audio indicator and a tactile indicator.

15. The system of claim 12 wherein said breath indicator is calibrated based on a reaction time of said subject.

16. The system of claim 15 herein said breath indicator is dynamically calibrated based on the reaction time of said subject such that a timing sequence of said breath indicator adjusts as a function of said subject'"'"'s reaction time.

17. The system of claim 12 herein said display provides feedback in the form of a target-oriented visual presentation responsive to said one or more current breathing patterns.

18. The system of claim 17 herein said target-oriented visual presentation converges on a target pattern as said one or more current breathing patterns converge on said one or more optimal breathing patterns.

19. The system of claim 12 herein said subject'"'"'s physiological coherency is improved using said breath indicator and said providing feedback.

20. The system of claim 12 wherein said one or more current breathing patterns reflect a current emotional state of said subject.

21. The system of claim 12 wherein said display to provide feedback to said subject comprises a display to provide feedback to said subject wherein said feedback is in the form of a gaming event.

22. A computer program product comprising:

a computer usable medium having computer program code embodied therein, the computer program product having;

computer readable program code to monitor a subject'"'"'s respiration;

computer readable program code to determine one or more current breathing patterns for said subject, said one or more current breathing patterns to include at least one of a current respiratory cycle and a current respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern;

computer readable program code to determine one or more optimal breathing patterns for said subject, said one or more optimal breathing patterns to include at least one of an optimal respiratory cycle and an optimal respiratory sinus arrhythmia pattern;

computer readable program code to prompt said subject to take a breath at a specific time to cause said one or more current breathing patterns to approximate said one or more optimal breathing patterns; and

computer readable program code to provide feedback to said subject representative of said subject'"'"'s emotional state.

23. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the computer readable program code to determine said one or more optimal breathing patterns comprises computer readable program code to determine said one or more optimal breathing patterns where said one or more optimal breathing patterns are based on heart rate variability.

24. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein the computer readable program code to prompt comprises computer readable program code to prompt said subject to take the breath at the specific time using a breath indicator.

25. The computer program product of claim 24 wherein the computer readable program code to prompt comprises computer readable program code to prompt said subject using said breath indicator where said breath indicator is at least one of a visual indicator, an audio indicator and a tactile indicator.

26. The computer program product of claim 24 further comprising computer readable program code to calibrate said breath indicator based on the reaction time of said subject.

27. The computer program product of claim 26 wherein said computer readable program code to calibrate said breath indicator comprises computer readable program code to calibrate said breath indicator dynamically based on the reaction time of said subject such that a timing sequence of said breath indicator adjusts as a function of said subject'"'"'s reaction time.

28. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said computer readable program code to provide feedback comprises computer readable program code to provide feedback to said subject where said feedback is a target-oriented visual presentation responsive to said one or more current breathing patterns.

29. The computer program product of claim 28 wherein said computer readable program code to provide feedback comprises computer readable program code to provide feedback to said subject using the target-oriented visual presentation, wherein said target-oriented visual presentation converges on a target pattern as said one or more current breathing patterns converge on said one or more optimal breathing patterns.

30. The computer program product of claim 22 further comprising computer readable program code to improve said subject'"'"'s physiological coherency using said prompting and said providing feedback.

31. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said one or more current breathing patterns reflect a current emotional state of said subject.

32. The computer program product of claim 22 wherein said computer readable program code to provide feedback to said subject comprises computer readable program code to provide feedback to said subject representative wherein said feedback is in the form of a gaming event.

33. A method comprising:

sampling a physiological characteristic of a subject;

determining a measure of said physiological characteristic; and

determining if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency based on said measure, wherein said state is characterized by at least one of a sine-wave-shaped heart rhythm pattern and an increased synchronization between two or more oscillatory systems of said subject.

34. The method of claim 33, wherein determining the measure comprises determining the measure of said physiological characteristic where said physiological characteristic comprises heart rate variability, respiration patterns, blood pressure rhythms and a factor derived from ECG-R wave amplitudes.

35. The method of claim 33, wherein determining the measure comprises determining the measure of said physiological characteristic, said measure being expressed in one of the following:

a frequency domain, a time domain, a period analysis and a template match.

36. The method of claim 33, wherein said oscillatory systems are selected from the group consisting of:

heart rhythms, respiratory rhythms and blood pressure oscillations, ECG R-wave amplitude, pulse wave, impedance measures and vascular responses.

37. The method of claim 33 wherein said state of physiological coherency is further characterized by a state of entrainment between two or more of said subject'"'"'s heart rhythms, respiration rhythms and blood pressure rhythms.

38. The method of claim 33 wherein said state of physiological coherency is further characterized by increased positive emotions in said subject.

39. The method of claim 33, wherein determining if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency comprises comparing said measure to a physiological coherency range, wherein said physiological coherency range is expressed in the frequency range and is between 0.03125 Hertz and 0.234 Hertz.

40. The method of claim 39, wherein said coherency range includes a resonance frequency of said physiological characteristic.

41. The method of claim 33 wherein said measure is a pattern usable to determine an emotional state of said subject.

42. The method of claim 33 wherein said state of physiological coherency comprises having one of a phase and frequency lock between said two or more oscillatory systems of said subject.

43. The method of claim 33 wherein determining if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency comprises comparing said measure to a physiological coherency range, and the method further comprises providing said subject with feedback based on said comparing.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said feedback causes said subject to move closer to said state of physiological coherency.

45. The method of claim 33 further comprising:

sampling the physiological characteristic from each of a plurality of subjects;

determining a group measure from said sampling of the physiological characteristic from each of said plurality of subjects; and

determining if said plurality of subjects are in the state of physiological coherency based on said group measure.

46. The method of claim 45, wherein determining if said plurality of subjects are in the state of physiological coherency comprises comparing said group measure to a physiological coherency range, and the method further comprises providing said plurality of subjects with feedback based on said comparing.

47. The method of claim 46 wherein said feedback causes said plurality of subjects to move closer to said state of physiological coherency.

48. The method of claim 46 wherein said feedback is in the form of a gaming event.

49. A system comprising:

sampling means adapted to sample a physiological characteristic of a subject; and

,

a processor coupled to the sampling means, said processor to,

determine a measure of said physiological characteristic, and

determine if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency based on said measure, wherein said state is characterized by at least one of a sine-wave-shaped heart rhythm pattern, and an increased synchronization between two or more oscillatory systems of said subject.

50. The system of claim 49 wherein said physiological characteristic comprises heart rate variability rhythm, respiration patterns, blood pressure rhythms and a factor derived from ECG-R wave amplitudes.

51. The system of claim 49 wherein said measure is expressed in one of:

a frequency domain, a time domain, a period analysis and a template match.

52. The system of claim 49 wherein said oscillatory systems are selected from the group consisting of heart rhythms, respiratory rhythms and blood pressure oscillations, ECG R-wave amplitude-pulse wave, impedance measures, vascular responses.

53. The system of claim 49 wherein said state of physiological coherency is further characterized by a state of entrainment between two or more of said subject'"'"'s heart rhythms, blood pressure rhythms and respiration rhythms.

54. The system of claim 49 wherein said state of physiological coherency is further characterized by increased positive emotions in said subject.

55. The system of claim 49 wherein to determine if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency, the processor is further to compare said measure to a physiological coherency range, wherein said physiological coherency range is expressed in the frequency range and is between 0.03125 Hertz and 0.234 Hertz.

56. The system of claim 55 wherein said coherency range includes a resonance frequency of said physiological characteristic.

57. The system of claim 49 wherein said measure is a pattern usable to determine an emotional state of said subject.

58. The system of claim 49 wherein said state of physiological coherency comprises having one of a phase and frequency lock between said two or more oscillatory systems of said subject.

59. The system of claim 49 wherein to determine if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency, said processor is to compare said measure to a physiological coherency range, and wherein the processor is further to provide said subject with feedback based on a result of comparing said measure to the physiological coherency range.

60. The system of claim 59 wherein said feedback causes said subject to enter said state of physiological coherency.

61. The system of claim 49 wherein the sampling means is further adapted to sample the physiological characteristic from each of a plurality of subjects, and wherein the processor is further to,

determine a group measure from said sampling of the physiological characteristic from each of said plurality of subjects, and

determine if said plurality of subjects are in the state of physiological coherency based on said group measure.

62. The system of claim 61 wherein to determine if said subject is in a state of physiological coherency, said processor is to compare said group measure to a physiological coherency range, and wherein the processor is further to provide said plurality of subjects with feedback based on a result of comparing the group measure to the physiological coherency range.

63. The system of claim 62 wherein said feedback causes said plurality of subjects to move closer to said state of physiological coherency.

64. The system of claim 62 wherein said feedback is in the form of a gaming event.