Correlating Frequency Signatures To Cognitive Processes

• US 20120022392A1
• Filed: 07/22/2011
• Published: 01/26/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 07/22/2010
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Original Assignee: Washington University In St Louis
• Inventors: Leuthardt, Eric C., Gaona, Charles, Sharma, Mohit
• Application Number:
  US13/189,021
• Publication Number:
  US 20120022392A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 600/544
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2562/046 in a matrix array
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/291 for electroencephalography [EEG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/374 Detecting the frequency distribution of signals, e.g. detecting delta, theta, alpha, beta or gamma waves
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61F 4/00 Methods or devices enabling patients or disabled persons to operate an apparatus or a device not forming part of the body operating or control means for prostheses A61F2/48, A61F2/68
• CPC Class Codes: G06F 3/015 Input arrangements based on nervous system activity detection, e.g. brain waves [EEG] detection, electromyograms [EMG] detection, electrodermal response detection

Abstract

Determining an intended action based on one more brain signal frequencies includes establishing communication with one or more electrodes for sensing brain signals of a subject, and acquiring the brain signals via the electrodes while the subject performs at least one cognitive task, wherein the acquired brain signals having a plurality of frequencies associated therewith. A physiologic change at one or more of the plurality of frequencies may then be identified from the acquired brain signals, and the one or more of the plurality of frequencies are associated with the cognitive task.

Claims

1. A method comprising:

establishing communication with one or more electrodes for sensing brain signals of a subject;

acquiring the brain signals via the electrodes while the subject performs at least one cognitive task, the acquired brain signals having a plurality of frequencies associated therewith;

identifying, from the acquired brain signals, an physiologic change at one or more of the plurality of frequencies; and

associating the one or more of the plurality of frequencies with the cognitive task.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the brain signals comprises acquiring signals at a single portion of the brain.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein acquiring the brain signals comprises acquiring signals at multiple portions of the brain.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein associating the one or more of the plurality of frequencies with the cognitive task comprises detecting one of an amplitude change that is associated with the cognitive task and a phase change that is associated with the cognitive task.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein the cognitive task is one of a motor task, a speech task, an attention task, a visual task, and a memory task.

6. The method of claim 1, further comprising transmitting a signal representative of the one or more of the plurality of frequencies associated with the cognitive task to a processor.

7. The method of claim 6, further comprising decoding the signal to determine the cognitive task.

8. The method of claim 7, further comprising generating a control signal based on the cognitive task and controlling a device using the control signal.

9. An apparatus comprising:

a memory area configured to store a correlation between frequency signatures and cognitive tasks;

an interface configured to receive brain signals from a subject via one or more electrodes; and

a processor configured to;

detect, from the brain signals received by the interface, at least one of the frequency signatures; and

identify at least one of the cognitive tasks correlating to the detected frequency signature.

10. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the interface is configured to receive the brain signals from a single portion of the brain or from multiple portions of the brain.

11. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to generate a control signal based on the identified cognitive task.

12. The apparatus of claim 11, wherein the processor is further configured to control a device using the control signal.

13. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is further configured to store the frequency signatures in the memory area and to detect changes in the frequency signatures associated with at least one cognitive task over time.

14. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the processor is configured to detect the at least one of the frequency signatures by detecting a physiologic change within the brain signals representative of the associated cognitive task, wherein the physiologic change in the brain signals is selected from the group consisting of amplitude changes, frequency power changes, frequency phase changes, and event-related potential changes.

15. The apparatus of claim 9, wherein the brain signals are signals selected from the group consisting of electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals, electroencephalography (EEG) signals, local field potentials, single neuron signals, magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals, mu rhythm signals, beta rhythm signals, low gamma rhythm signals, and high gamma rhythm signals.

16. One or more computer-readable storage media having computer-executable components, the components comprising:

a communication component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to receive brain signals from a subject via one or more electrodes; and

a signal analysis component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to;

detect at least one frequency signature from the brain signals; and

identify at least one cognitive task associated with the at least one frequency signature; and

.

a control component that when executed by at least one processor causes the at least one processor to perform an action related to the at least one cognitive task.

17. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the communication component causes the at least one processor to receive the brain signals from a single portion of the brain or from multiple portions of the brain.

18. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the signal analysis component causes the at least one processor to store the at least one frequency signature in a memory area and to detect changes in the frequency signature associated with the at least one cognitive task over time.

19. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the signal analysis component causes the at least one processor to detect the at least one frequency signature by detecting a physiologic change within the brain signals representative of the particular action, wherein the physiologic change in the brain signals is selected from the group consisting of amplitude changes, frequency power changes, frequency phase changes, and event-related potential changes.

20. The computer-readable storage media of claim 16, wherein the brain signals are signals selected from the group consisting of electrocorticographic (ECoG) signals, electroencephalography (EEG) signals, local field potentials, single neuron signals, magnetoencephalography (MEG) signals, mu rhythm signals, beta rhythm signals, low gamma rhythm signals, and high gamma rhythm signals.