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

• US 20140057232A1
• Filed: 11/01/2013
• Published: 02/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 04/04/2011
• Status: Abandoned Application

• Current Assignee: Sheepdog Sciences, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Daniel Z Wetmore, Robert J. Barretto, Todd O. Anderson
• Inventors: WETMORE, Daniel Z., ANDERSON, Todd O., BARRETTO, Robert J., SIEBERT, Lia, BUTTERWICK, Alexander F.A.
• Application Number:
  US14/070,410
• Publication Number:
  US 20140057232A1
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 2560/0431 Portable apparatus, e.g. comprising a handle or case
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0036 including treatment, e.g., using an implantable medical device, ablating, ventilating
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4812 Detecting sleep stages or cycles
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4836 Diagnosis combined with treatment in closed-loop systems or methods A61B5/0036 takes precedence
• 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: A61N 1/36025 : for treating a mental or cerebral condition
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02A 90/10 : Information and communication technologies [ICT] supporting adaptation to climate change, e.g. for weather forecasting or climate simulation

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. Described herein are systems, methods and devices to enhance a user'"'"'s cognitive function in 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. The machine may record ambient sensory inputs during awake acquisition or reinforcement/relearning and replay all or an extracted form of the ambient sensory stimuli during a specified portion of the user'"'"'s sleep. A stimulus may be delivered to a user to affect brain activity during sleep to modulate the phase of a user'"'"'s sleep, quality of sleep, and/or quality or intensity of brain rhythms during a particular phase of sleep.

Claims

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

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

a sensory stimulator configured to provide a plurality of distinct sensory stimuli during a training mode;

a controller comprising control logic configured to control the application of the sensory stimulus, wherein the controller receives information on the user'"'"'s sleep state from the sleep monitor, and controls the sensory stimulator to apply the contextual sensory stimulus from the specific training session according to a training schedule when the user is experiencing a specified sleep stage during a sleep consolidation mode; and

a stimulator for delivering a sensory or directly neuromodulatory Modulatory Sleep Stimulus during a sleep consolidation mode.

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

olfactory stimuli, auditory stimuli and tactile stimuli.

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

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

15. The system of claim 1, wherein the aspect of a user'"'"'s physiology is non-cognitive in nature.

16. The system of claim 15, wherein the non-cognitive aspect of a user'"'"'s physiology is immunological in nature.

17. The system of claim 1, further configured to be self-actuated.

18. The system of claim 17, further comprising a user interface to control the delivery of Modulatory Sleep Stimuli.

19. The system of claim 18, wherein the user interface comprises a smartphone or tablet.

5. A portable user-controllable device for modulating an aspect of a user'"'"'s physiology by delivering a stimulus to a sleeping user having a form selected from the list:

sensory stimuli capable of activating one or more of a user'"'"'s auditory, somatosensory, olfactory, gustatory, visual, vestibular, or other sensory systems; and

form of stimulation that achieves neuromodulation by directing at a target region of the nervous system electrical, ultrasound, optical, magnetic, or another form of energy.

6. The system of claim 5, wherein the aspect of a user'"'"'s physiology is cognitive in nature.

7. The system of claim 6, wherein the cognitive aspect of a user'"'"'s physiology is selected from the group consisting of:

enhance memory formation;

disrupt memory formation;

eliminate, modify, or mitigate previously formed memories;

modify a subject'"'"'s mood during subsequent wakefulness;

enhance insight;

enhance, eliminate, disrupt, or otherwise modify dreams;

or achieve another cognitive effect to improve, enhance, disrupt, modify, or otherwise affect cognitive function in a subject.

8. The system of claim 6, wherein the aspect of a user'"'"'s physiology is sleep.

9. The system of claim 8, wherein a subject experiences more sleep and/or experiences additional duration and/or epochs of a sleep stage.

10. The system of claim 9, wherein a subject experiences increased duration of slow-wave sleep.

11. The system of claim 10, configured to modulate slow oscillations in a subject during sleep.

12. The system of claim 11, wherein the power of slow oscillations is enhanced.

13. The system of claim 10, configured to modulate sleep spindles in a subject during sleep.

14. The system of claim 11, wherein the frequency and or power of sleep spindles is enhanced.