APPARATUS, SYSTEM, AND METHOD FOR MODULATING CONSOLIDATION OF MEMORY DURING SLEEP

• US 20120251989A1
• Filed: 04/04/2012
• Published: 10/04/2012
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Sheepdog Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Sheepdog Sciences, Inc.
• Inventors: Wetmore, Daniel Z., Anderson, Todd O., Barretto, Robert J., Butterwick, Alexander F. A.
• Granted Patent: US 8,382,484 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0016 by the smell sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0022 by the tactile sense, e.g. vibrations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0027 by the hearing sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0072 with application of electrical currents
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0077 with application of chemical or pharmacological stimulus
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 21/00 Other devices or methods to cause a change in the state of consciousness; Devices for producing or ending sleep by mechanical, optical, or acoustical means, e.g. for hypnosis
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3553 remote, e.g. between patient's home and doctor's office
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3569 sublocal, e.g. between console and disposable
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3584 using modem, internet or bluetooth
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/3592 using telemetric means, e.g. radio or optical transmission
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/502 User interfaces, e.g. screens or keyboards
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/52 with memories providing a history of measured variating parameters of apparatus or patient
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/581 by audible feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/582 by tactile feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/583 by visual feedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2205/609 Biometric patient identification means
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2209/086 Docking stations
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/04 Heartbeat characteristics, e.g. ECG, blood pressure modulation
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/10 Electroencephalographic signals
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/14 : Electro-oculogram [EOG]
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/205 : partial oxygen pressure (P-O2)
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/42 : Rate
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/50 : Temperature
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/60 : Muscle strain, i.e. measured on the user
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/62 : Posture
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/63 : Motion, e.g. physical activity
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2230/65 : Impedance, e.g. conductivity, capacity
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/00 : Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26

Abstract

Devices, systems and methods to modify memory and/or cognitive function by delivering a sensory stimulus paired with learned material at opportune physiological periods during sleep. For example, described herein are systems, methods and devices to enhance a user'"'"'s cognitive function in such areas as memorization and learning. A machine (e.g., a system or device) may be used to identify opportune periods of the sleep cycle and to deliver a stimulus during specific phases of the sleep cycle to facilitate or interrupt memory consolidation. In some variations the machine records ambient sensory inputs during awake acquisition or reinforcement/relearning and replays all or an extracted form of the ambient sensory stimuli a specified portion of the user'"'"'s sleep.

Claims

1. A system for improving memory having a training mode and a sleep consolidation mode, the system comprising:

a user interface comprising a control allowing a user to switch the device to the training mode to indicate a training session;

a sensory stimulator configured to provide a plurality of distinct sensory stimuli;

a sleep monitor configured to monitor a user'"'"'s sleep state; and

a controller comprising control logic receiving input from the user interface and configured to select a distinct sensory stimulus for a specific training session and to control the application of the distinct stimulus during the specific training session, and further wherein the controller receives information on the user'"'"'s sleep state from the sleep monitor, and controls the sensory stimulator to apply the distinct sensory stimulus from the specific training session when the user is experiencing a specified sleep stage during a sleep consolidation mode following the specific training session.

2. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensory stimulator is configured to provide an ambient sensory stimulus recorded during the training session.

3. The system of claim 2, wherein the sensory stimulator comprising an ambient recorder for recording the ambient stimulus wherein the ambient recorder is configured to record one or more of ambient sounds, ambient odors, and ambient sensations.

4. The system of claim 1, wherein the specified sleep stage is slow wave sleep.

5. The system of claim 1, further comprising a memory connected to the controller.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the memory is configured to store information that indicates one or more of:

which sensory stimuli have been applied for specific training sessions, the sleep state of user, and completion of application of a sensory stimulus during a sleep consolidation mode following a specific training session.

7. The system of claim 1, wherein the sensory stimulator is configured to deliver one or more of:

olfactory stimuli, auditory stimuli and tactile stimuli.

8. The system of claim 1, further comprising housing at least partially enclosing the user interface, sensory stimulator, and controller.

9. The system of claim 1, further comprising a communications module coupled to the controller configured to allow communication with a remote site.

10. The system of claim 1, wherein the control logic comprises an application configured to be executed on a mobile device.

11. A portable user-controllable device for improving memory, the device comprising:

a user interface comprising a control allowing a user to place the device into a training mode indicating a training session;

a sensory stimulator configured to present a plurality of distinct sensory stimuli;

sleep monitoring logic configured to determine when the user is in a specified sleep state;

a controller comprising control logic configured to determine a specific sensory stimulus received by the user concurrent with a particular training session;

wherein the controller is further configured to reapply the specific sensory stimulus when the user is in a specified sleep state following the training session; and

a housing at least partially enclosing the user interface, sensory stimulator, and controller.

12. The device of claim 11, further comprising a sleep monitor configured to monitor the user'"'"'s sleep state.

13. The device of claim 11, wherein the control logic comprises a set of distinct sensory stimuli to be presented during a particular training session.

14. The device of claim 11, wherein the sensory stimulator is configured to deliver one or more of olfactory stimuli, auditory stimuli, and tactile stimuli.

15. A system for improving memory having a training mode and a sleep consolidation mode, the system comprising:

a user interface comprising a control allowing a user to switch the device to the training mode to indicate a training session;

a sensory stimulator configured to play back an ambient stimulus recorded during a training session;

a sleep monitor configured to monitor the user'"'"'s sleep state; and

a controller comprising control logic receiving input from the user interface and configured to cause the system to record the ambient stimulus during the training session, further wherein the controller receives information on the patient'"'"'s sleep state from the sleep monitor, and controls the sensory stimulator to apply the recorded ambient stimulus when the user is experiencing a specified sleep stage following the specific training session.

16. The system of claim 15, further comprising an ambient recorder for recording the ambient stimulus.

17. The system of claim 15, wherein the ambient recorder is configured to record one or more of ambient sounds, ambient odors, and ambient sensations.

18. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensory stimulator is configured to access one or more sources of ambient stimuli that are active during the training session.

19. The system of claim 15, wherein the specified sleep stage is slow wave sleep.

20. The system of claim 15, wherein the sensory stimulator is configured to deliver one or more of olfactory stimuli;

auditory stimuli;

or tactile stimuli.

21. The system of claim 15, further comprising housing at least partially enclosing the user interface, sensory stimulator, and controller.

22. The system of claim 15, further comprising a communications module coupled to the controller configured to allow communication with a remote site.

23. The system of claim 15, wherein the control logic comprises an application configured to be executed on a mobile device.

24. A method of improving memory with a user-controlled device, the method comprising:

selecting, in a user-controlled device, a specific sensory stimulus that is received by the user during a first learning period;

detecting, with the user-controlled device, a specified sleep stage in the user following the first learning period; and

delivering, from the user-controlled device, the specific sensory stimulus to the user during the specified sleep stage following the first learning period.

25. The method of claim 24, further comprising delivering, from the user-controlled device, the specific sensory stimulus to the user during the first learning period.

26. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting the specific sensory stimulus comprises recording an ambient sensory stimulus during the first learning period.

27. The method of claim 24, wherein the specified sleep stage comprises slow wave sleep.

28. The method of claim 24, further comprising:

selecting, in the user-controlled device, a second sensory stimulus that is different from the first sensory stimulus and that is received by the user during a second learning period; and

delivering the second sensory stimulus to the user during a specified sleep stage following the second learning period.

29. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting the sensory stimulus comprises choosing a sensory stimulus from among a plurality of non-distracting sensory stimuli that have not previously been delivered by the user-controlled device during a learning period.

30. The method of claim 24, wherein selecting the sensory stimulus comprises selecting one or more of:

an olfactory stimulus;

an auditory stimulus; and

a tactile stimulus.