Three-dimensional localization, display, recording, and analysis of electrical activity in the cerebral cortex

• US 20100042011A1
• Filed: 10/31/2007
• Published: 02/18/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 05/16/2005
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Joseph D. Mocanu, Mark S. Doidge
• Original Assignee: Joseph D. Mocanu, Mark S. Doidge
• Inventors: Mocanu, Joseph D., Doidge, Mark S.
• Granted Patent: US 9,179,854 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/164 Lie detection
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/372 Analysis of electroencephalograms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4023 Evaluating sense of balance
• CPC Class Codes: G06T 17/10 Constructive solid geometry [CSG] using solid primitives, e.g. cylinders, cubes

Abstract

The present invention describes a method and apparatus to localize the electrical signals measured from a subject'"'"'s scalp surface, preferably in near-real time, and to generate dynamic three-dimensional information of the electrical activity occurring within the cerebral cortex of the brain. In the preferred embodiment, it can produce images that can be immediately inspected and analyzed by an operator in near-real time, resulting in a powerful new cortical imaging modality, which we denote as Dynamic Electrocortical Imaging (DECI). The present invention involves the use of a computer, an electroencephalographic (EEG) amplifier, EEG electrodes, and custom software. It can measure healthy and diseased cortical events and states in both conscious and unconscious subjects. This is useful, as it allows for the diagnosis, monitoring and treatment of cortical disorders, while also furthering the understanding of the human brain and lending use to additional non-medical applications such as in entertainment, education, lie-detection and industry. The invention in one embodiment is implemented using software in conjunction with readily available EEG hardware. Furthermore, this same method can be applied to pre-existing data and when doing so, EEG hardware is not required. Having a practical near-real time 3D imaging system brings a far more accessible technology to doctors, researchers, individuals, and private clinics to better diagnose, monitor, treat and understand many of the conditions and abnormalities of the brain.

Claims

1. A method for near-real time three-dimensional localization of electrical activity in the cerebral cortex comprising:

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp and associated connectors,

B) connecting the electrodes to an amplifier/recorder and connecting the amplifier/recorder to a computer,

C) utilizing said amplifier/recorder to receive electrical signals transmitted through said subject'"'"'s scalp,

D) capturing the electrical signals from said amplifier/recorder with said computer, and

E) processing said captured electrical signals with mathematical calculations in near-real time resulting in localized electrical activity in three-dimensions originating from said subject'"'"'s cerebral cortex.

2. The method of claim 1 wherein said mathematical calculations includes an inverse solution approximation.

3. The method of claim 2 further including a method of communicating to a human operator in near-real time said localized electrical activity by generating a stream of information using a final presentation method.

4. The method of claim 3 wherein said final presentation method is selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) using a single screen display with one window,

ii) using a using a single screen display with multiple windows,

iii) using a multiple screen display with single windows,

iv) using a multiple screen display with multiple windows,

v) using a speaker to generate sound.

5. The method of claim 3 wherein said information is displayed as a stream of images.

6. The method of claim 5 wherein the stream of images displays voxels arranged in the shape of a solution space for a brain.

7. The method of claim 6 wherein said voxels are displayed graphically utilizing tools to manipulate the graphical display and analysis of voxels.

8. The method of claim 6 wherein said localized electrical activity is displayed graphically utilizing tools to analyze and graphically display localized electrical activity.

9. The method of claim 6 wherein said stream of images is displayed graphically utilizing tools to modify graphically displayed results.

10. The method of claim 3 wherein said information is displayed as a stream of alphanumeric text.

11. The method of claim 3 wherein said information is simultaneously presented with additional near-real time information selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) electroencephalographic signals from said subject,

ii) video image signals from said subject,

iii) physiological signals from said subject,

iv) audio signals from said subject.

12. The method of claim 3 wherein said human operator is aided in drawing conclusions about the subject to perform a wide variety of useful tasks.

13. The method of claim 12 further including stimulating the subject.

14. The method of claim 12 wherein said subject is a patient, and said human operator applies said final presentation method for the purpose of aiding in diagnosing said patient with a brain disorder.

15. The method of claim 14 wherein said brain disorder is a member of any one or a combination of the following list:

i) mental and behavioural disorders,

ii) diseases of the nervous system,

iii) other diseases and disorders involving the cerebral cortex.

16. The method of claim 14 further including:

i) observing said localized electrical activity from said patient for known characteristics by said human operator to find indicators from said patient for an item on said list, and

ii) issuing a diagnosis by said human operator.

17. The method of claim 14 further including:

i) comparing autonomously said patient to a statistical norm by a statistical test,

ii) indicating a result demonstrating a statistical difference indicative of a probable diagnosis utilizing said final presentation method, and

iii) interpreting the result and rendering and issuing a diagnosis of said patient'"'"'s brain disorder by said human operator.

18. The method of claim 14 further including:

i) utilizing an autonomous non-comparative procedure involving a threshold which if exceeded will generate an alert indicating a probable diagnosis,

ii) presenting said alert using said final presentation method, and

iii) interpreting the alert and rendering and issuing a diagnosis of said patient'"'"'s disorder by said human operator.

19. The method of claim 12 wherein:

i) said subject is a patient, and

ii) said human operator applies said final presentation method for the purpose of aiding in monitoring the patient with a monitorable condition.

20. The method of claim 19 wherein said monitorable condition is a member of any one or a combination of the following list:

i) mental and behavioural disorders,

ii) diseases of the nervous system,

iii) other diseases and disorders involving the cerebral cortex,

iv) anesthesia of a patient,

v) comas,

vi) acute head traumas,

vii) reactions to a stimulus.

21. The method of claim 19 further including:

i) observing said localized electrical activity from said patient for a known characteristic indicative of a change in said patient'"'"'s monitorable condition, and

ii) issuing an alert to said human operator of a change in said patient'"'"'s monitorable condition.

22. The method of claim 21 further including a transmitter at the site of the patient, and a receiver at a remote site whereby a human operator at a remote position can monitor said patient.

23. The method of claim 19 further including:

i) utilizing autonomous comparing between said patient and a statistical norm by a statistical test,

ii) indicating a change in said patient'"'"'s condition by demonstrating a statistical difference indicative of a change in said patient'"'"'s monitorable condition using said final presentation method, and

iii) interpreting said result and rendering and issuing an opinion as to the change in said patient'"'"'s monitorable condition by said human operator.

24. The method of claim 19 further including:

i) utilizing an autonomous non-comparative monitoring procedure, involving a threshold which if exceeded will generate an alert indicating a change in the patient'"'"'s monitorable condition,

ii) presenting said alert using said final presentation method, and

iii) interpreting said alert by said human operator rendering and issuing an opinion as to the change in said patient'"'"'s monitorable condition.

25. The method of claim 12 wherein:

i) said subject is a patient, and

ii) said human operator uses said final presentation method for the purpose of aiding in treating said patient with a treatable condition.

26. The method of claim 25 where said treatable condition is a member of any one or a combination of the following list:

i) mental and behavioural disorders,

ii) diseases of the nervous system,

iii) other diseases and disorders involving the cerebral cortex,

iv) comas,

v) acute head traumas,

vi) peripheral nerve damage.

27. The method of claim 25 further including:

i) observing localized electrical activity from said patient for known characteristics of said treatable condition by said human operator, and

ii) determining a target for a treatment intervention.

28. The method of claim 27 where said treatment intervention is selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) treatment with transcranial magnetic stimulation,

ii) treatment with an entrainment device,

iii) treatment by surgical implantation of a device,

iv) treatment with biofeedback to educate the brain.

29. The method of claim 27 further including:

i) utilizing autonomous comparing between said patient and said statistical norms by a statistical test,

ii) a method of indicating a result demonstrating a statistical difference indicative of a target for a treatment intervention for said patient'"'"'s treatable condition utilizing said final presentation method, and

iii) a method of interpreting said result and rendering and determining a target for a treatment intervention by said human operator.

30. The method of claim 12 wherein said human operator uses said final presentation method for the purpose of aiding in researching localized cortical electrical activity and to discover new characteristics of said localized cortical electrical activity.

31. The method of claim 30 further including:

i) observing said localized electrical activity from said subject for gross phenomena, and

ii) developing refined analysis.

32. The method of claim 30 wherein said subject is healthy and wherein said subject'"'"'s localized electrical activity is autonomously contributing in near-real time to generating a normative dataset.

33. The method of claim 30 further wherein said subject is pathological and wherein said subject'"'"'s localized electrical activity is autonomously contributing near-real time to generating an abnormal dataset.

34. The method of claim 30 further wherein said subject'"'"'s localized electrical activity is autonomously compared with a statistical test in near-real time to any one or a combination of the following:

i) an abnormal dataset consisting of one or more subjects,

ii) an normal dataset consisting of one or more subjects,

iii) said subject'"'"'s own normal dataset,

iv) said subject'"'"'s own abnormal dataset.

35. The method of claim 34 wherein said statistical test is selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) t-test,

ii) Poisson test,

iii) X² test,

iv) analysis of variance (ANOVA),

v) topographical analysis of variance (TANOVA),

vi) statistical non-parametric mapping,

vii) other predetermined appropriate statistical tests.

36. The method of claim 30 wherein said subject'"'"'s localized electrical activity is autonomously contributing in near-real time to generating a correlative dataset.

37. The method of claim 12 wherein said human operator applies said final presentation method for the purpose of a detecting a lie in said subject.

38. The method of claim 37 further including:

i) observing said localized electrical activity from said subject for known characteristics of lying by said human operator,

ii) issuing an opinion by said human operator as to the occurrence of said lie committed by said subject.

39. The method of claim 37 further including questioning said subject about said lie prior to capturing said localized electrical activity.

40. The method of claim 37 further including a method of lie detection selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) correlating said localized electrical activity with a physiological marker for lying,

ii) correlating said localized electrical activity with a video marker for lying,

iii) correlating said localized electrical activity with an audio marker for lying.

41. The method of claim 37 further including:

i) utilizing autonomous comparing of said subject to a statistical norm for lying by a statistical test,

ii) indicating a result demonstrating a statistical difference indicative of lying on said final presentation method, and

iii) issuing an opinion by said human operator as to the occurrence of a lie committed by said subject.

42. The method of claim 37 further including:

i) utilizing an autonomous non-comparative lie detecting procedure, involving a threshold which if exceeded will generate an alert indicating the probable occurrence of a lie,

ii) presenting said alert using said final presentation method, and

iii) issuing an opinion by said human operator as to the occurrence of a lie committed by said subject.

43. The method of claim 12 wherein said subject applies said final presentation method for the purpose of aiding in educating and training said subject'"'"'s own brain.

44. The method of claim 43 wherein said method is selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) training a desirable localized electrical activity to occur,

ii) training an undesirable localized electrical activity so that it does not occur.

45. The method of claim 43 wherein said training is performed by said subject in near-real time using said subject'"'"'s own localized electrical activity that has been further processed using said final presentation method.

46. The method of claim 12 wherein said subject serves as said human operator and applies said final presentation method for the purpose of aiding in entertaining.

47. The method of claim 46 further including observing localized electrical activity from said subject for known entertaining characteristics by said human operator.

48. The method of claim 46 further including observing said localized electrical activity from said subject for novel unknown characteristics that said subject finds entertaining.

49. The method of claim 2 further including recording the results of said mathematical calculations on a recording medium.

50. The method of claim 49 further including playback of said recording.

51. The method of claim 2 wherein said mathematical calculations are applied for the purpose of aiding in diagnosing said subject utilizing an autonomous non-comparative diagnostic procedure involving a threshold which if exceeded will activate an alert indicating the occurrence of a target signal.

52. The method of claim 2 wherein said mathematical calculations are applied for the purpose of aiding in monitoring said subject utilizing an autonomous non-comparative monitoring procedure involving a threshold which if exceeded will activate an alert indicating the occurrence of a change in said patient'"'"'s monitorable condition 1.

53. The method of claim 2 wherein said mathematical calculations are applied for the purpose of aiding in treating said subject utilizing an autonomous non-comparative diagnostic procedure involving a threshold which if exceeded will activate a treatment device.

54. The method of claim 53 wherein said treatment device is selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) a prosthetic treatment device,

ii) an implantable device.

55. The method of claim 2 wherein said wherein said mathematical calculation is applied for the purpose of aiding in entertaining, and further including:

i) recognizing autonomously patterns utilized to manipulate a game character or visually entertaining display, and

ii) using said final presentation method to display said character.

56. The method of claim 2 wherein said mathematical calculations are applied for the purpose of effecting an industrial purpose further including:

i) isolating a volitional signal from said subject'"'"'s motor cortex,

ii) capturing said volitional signal, and

iii) utilizing said volitional signal to activate an effector thereby manipulating the environment to achieve an industrial purpose.

57. The method of claim 55 further including a transmitter which is in turn connected to a receiver and finally connected to a remote effector in order to produce an industrial change in the environment at a remote location.

58. An apparatus for near-real time three-dimensional localization of electrical activity in the cerebral cortex comprising:

A) A plurality of electrodes and associated connectors to receive electrical signals from a cerebral cortex,

B) An amplifier/recorder that receives said electrical signals,

C) A computer that captures said electrical signals from said amplifier/recorder to produce captured electrical signals,

D) A computer that processes said captured electrical signals and localizes them using mathematical calculations in near-real time to produce localized electrical activity.

59. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein said mathematical calculations includes an inverse solution approximation.

60. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein a final presentation apparatus which is capable of the near-real time display of said localized electrical activity as a stream of images is utilized.

61. The apparatus of claim 60 wherein said final presentation apparatus is any one or a combination of the following:

i) a single computer monitor,

ii) a plurality of computer monitors,

iii) a projector,

iv) an audio speaker.

62. The apparatus of claim 58 further including at least one auxiliary apparatus for the near-real time recording and near-real time display and later playback of an auxiliary signal wherein said auxiliary signal is any one or a combination of the following:

i) video signal,

ii) audio signal,

iii) physiological signal,

iv) electroencephalographic signal.

63. The apparatus of claim 58 further including a transmitter which transmits signals to a remote location selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) said localized electrical activity,

ii) said auxiliary signal.

64. The apparatus of claim 58 further including a stimulator to stimulate a subject prior to capturing said localized electrical activity.

65. The apparatus of claim 58 further including a treatment device selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) a transcranial magnetic stimulator,

ii) an implantable device,

iii) a prosthetic device,

iv) an entrainment device,

v) a monitor for therapeutic biofeedback.

66. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein said computer has the capability to do autonomous comparisons.

67. The apparatus of claim 58 wherein said computer has the capability to do autonomous non-comparative procedures.

68. The apparatus of claim 58 further including an effector selected from any one or a combination of the following:

i) a chemical effector to make a chemical change,

ii) a physical effector to make a physical change,

iii) a mechanical effector to perform a mechanical act.

69. A method for diagnosing, in near-real time, mental, psychological and behavioral disorders, diseases, damage or syndromes associated with brain activity in a subject comprising the steps of:

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

C) processing in near-real time the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain;

D) comparing in near-real time the values in the dataset with either the subject'"'"'s own normal dataset or a normative dataset that is a statistical norm for healthy individuals not suffering from the subject'"'"'s suspected condition, or to an abnormal dataset for persons suffering from a mental, psychological and behavioral disorders, diseases, damage or syndromes; and

,

E) providing in near-real time an indication of the result of the step of comparing the values in the dataset.

70. A method for diagnosing mental, psychological and behavioral disorders, diseases, damage or syndromes associated with brain activity in a subject comprising the steps of:

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

C) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain;

D) comparing the values in the dataset with either the subject'"'"'s own normal dataset or a normative dataset that is a statistical norm for healthy individuals not suffering from the subject'"'"'s suspected condition, or to an abnormal dataset for persons suffering from a mental, psychological and behavioral disorders, diseases, damage or syndromes; and

,

E) providing an indication of the result of the step of comparing the values in the dataset.

71. A method for monitoring the mental, psychological and behavioral disorders, diseases, damage or syndromes or condition of a subject which condition is associated with brain activity in the subject comprising the steps of:

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

C) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain;

D) comparing the values in the dataset with either the patient'"'"'s own normal dataset or a normative dataset that is a statistical norm for healthy individuals or to an abnormal dataset for persons suffering from a disorder or disease; and

,

E) providing an indication of the result of the step of comparing the values in the dataset.

72. A method for treating mental, psychological and behavioral disorders, diseases, damage or syndromes or condition of a subject which can be assessed by evaluating brain activity in the subject comprising the steps of:

A) establishing a dataset of the subject'"'"'s baseline condition prior to treatment;

B) applying treatment;

C) establishing a dataset of the subject'"'"'s condition after treatment;

D) determining the change in brain activity by comparing the after-treatment dataset to the baseline dataset; and

E) modifying treatment if necessary in response to the step of determining the change in brain activity.

73. A method for detecting if a person is telling the truth or lying comprising the steps of:

A) creating a dataset of truthful and untruthful responses with each value in the dataset corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in a typical human brain wherein the dataset is either a statistical norm or the person'"'"'s own signature patterns indicative of recognition, lying or truthful responses;

B) applying electrodes to a person'"'"'s scalp;

C) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

D) presenting a stimulus;

E) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset of unknown brain responses with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the person'"'"'s brain;

F) comparing the dataset of unknown brain responses to the dataset of recognition truthful and untruthful responses;

G) providing an indication of the result of the step of comparing the dataset.

74. A method for detecting brain activity in a subject for use in controlling an entertainment device comprising the steps of:

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) providing a sensory stimulus associated with an activity of the entertainment device;

C) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

D) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset of sensory stimulus responses with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain;

E) comparing the values in the dataset with either the subject'"'"'s own non-stimulated dataset or a normative dataset that is a statistical norm for non-stimulated individuals; and

F) providing an indication of the result of the step of comparing the values to cause a change in the entertainment device so as to entertain the subject.

75. A method for detecting brain activity in a subject for use in controlling industrial applications comprising the steps of:

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) providing a sensory stimulus associated with an activity of the industrial device;

C) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

D) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain to identify and quantify volitional signals;

E) comparing the values in the dataset with either the subject'"'"'s own non-stimulated dataset or a normative dataset that is a statistical norm for non-stimulated individuals; and

F) providing an indication of the result of the step of comparing the values to activate a change in the environment using an effector.

76. A method for researching brain activity, mental, psychological and physical cortical processes and states, treatment targets, normal and abnormal brain activity, brain response to stimuli, brain activity indicators of deterioration or improvement in condition, or brain activity indicators of truthfulness and lies, comprising the steps of;

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

C) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset of sensory stimulus responses with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain;

D) analyzing the dataset, and;

E) graphically displaying the dataset.

77. A method for educating and training the brain to improve cognitive, mental, or psychological state or function, comprising the steps of;

A) applying electrodes to a subject'"'"'s scalp;

B) capturing electrical signals from the electrodes;

C) processing the captured electrical signals by an inverse solution approximation to produce a dataset of sensory stimulus responses with each value corresponding to electrical activity at a specific three-dimensional location in the subject'"'"'s brain to identify and quantify a particular brain state associated with the desired area or type of improvement;

D) presenting an indication of the current brain state; and

,

E) altering the brain state.

78. A tool to manipulate a graphical display and analysis of voxels.

79. A tool to analyze and graphically display localized brain electrical activity.

80. A tool to modify graphically displayed results