Encephalophone

• US 20160027423A1
• Filed: 04/13/2015
• Published: 01/28/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 04/11/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Felix Darvas, Thomas Andrew Deuel
• Original Assignee: Felix Darvas, Thomas Andrew Deuel
• Inventors: Deuel, Thomas Andrew, Darvas, Felix
• Granted Patent: US 10,039,470 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/369 Electroencephalography [EEG] devices for psychotechnics A61B5/16
• 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: G10H 1/0025 Automatic or semi-automatic music composition, e.g. producing random music, applying rules from music theory or modifying a musical piece automatically producing a series of tones G10H1/26
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2210/115 using a random process to generate a musical note, phrase, sequence or structure
• CPC Class Codes: G10H 2220/376 using brain waves, e.g. EEG

Abstract

A novel musical instrument was created using electroencephalogram (EEG) motor imagery to control a synthesized piano, and is herein named the Encephalophone. Alpha-frequency (8-12 Hz) signal power, originating from either posterior dominant rhythm (PDR) in the occipital cortex or from mu rhythm in the motor cortex, was used to create a power scale which was then converted into a musical scale which could be manipulated by the individual. Subjects could then generate different notes of the scale by activation (event-related synchronization) or de-activation (event-related desynchronization) of the PDR or mu rhythms in occipital or motor cortex, respectively.

Claims

1. An encephalophone according to principles described herein.