Method for evaluating and treating an individual with electroencephalographic disentrainment feedback

• US 5,365,939 A
• Filed: 10/15/1993
• Issued: 11/22/1994
• Est. Priority Date: 10/15/1993
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Neuromedics Technology, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Neurotrain Lc
• Inventors: Ochs, Len
• Primary Examiner(s): Sykes, Angela D.
• Application Number:
  US08/137,909
• Time in Patent Office: 403 Days
• Field of Search: 128/731.2
• US Class Current: 600/545
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback

Abstract

A method for treating an individual by use of electroencephalographic feedback includes selecting a reference site for determining a brain wave frequency of the individual, entraining the brain wave frequency of the individual in one direction until a first predetermined stop condition occurs, and then entraining the brain wave frequency of the individual in the opposite direction until a second predetermined stop condition occurs. A method for assessing the flexibility of an individual with respect to treatment by electroencephalographic entrainment feedback includes selecting sites for determining brain wave frequencies of the individual, choosing one of the sites which has not been previously used for entrainment, entraining the brain wave frequency of the individual at the chosen site in one direction until a first predetermined stop condition occurs, entraining the brain wave frequency of the individual at the chosen site in the opposite direction until a second predetermined stop condition occurs, and then repeating the steps beginning with choosing a site until all sites have been tested.

Claims

1. A method for treating an individual, comprising in combination the steps of:

selecting at least one reference site for determining a brain wave frequency of the individual;

beginning a first sequence of steps, wherein the first sequence of steps is stopped upon a predetermined stop condition;

producing a stimulation detectible by the individual with a frequency component at a predetermined difference from the brain wave frequency, the difference being at a first polarity;

determining if a first predetermined time has elapsed from the initiation of the first sequence of steps;

determining if the brain wave frequency has reached a first limit corresponding to the first polarity;

if the first predetermined time has not elapsed and the brain wave frequency has not reached the first limit, then repeating the first sequence of steps;

if the first predetermined time has elapsed or the brain wave frequency has reached the first limit, then beginning at least one second sequence of steps, wherein either the first or the second sequence of steps is stopped upon a predetermined stop condition;

producing a stimulation detectible by the individual with a frequency component at a predetermined difference from the brain wave frequency, the difference being at a second polarity which is opposite to the first polarity;

determining if a second predetermined time has elapsed from the initiation of the second sequence of steps;

determining if the brain wave frequency has reached a second limit corresponding to the second polarity;

if the second predetermined time has not elapsed and the brain wave frequency has not reached the second limit, then repeating the second sequence of steps;

if the second predetermined time has elapsed or the second reference brain wave frequency has reached the second limit, then beginning the first sequence of steps.

2. A method according to claim 1 wherein:

one of the polarities is positive and the other polarity is negative; and

the limit corresponding to the positive polarity is less than forty hertz and the limit corresponding to the negative polarity is greater than two hertz.

3. A method for treating an individual, comprising in combination the steps of:

selecting a reference site for determining a brain wave frequency of the individual;

beginning a first sequence of steps, wherein the first sequence of steps is stopped upon a

predetermined stop condition;

producing a stimulation detectible by the individual with a frequency component at a predetermined frequency difference from the reference site for determining a brain wave frequency at a first polarity;

determining if a first predetermined time has elapsed from the initiation of the first sequence of steps;

if the first predetermined time has not elapsed, then repeating the first sequence of steps;

if the first predetermined time has elapsed, then beginning a second sequence of steps, wherein the second sequence of steps is stopped upon a predetermined stop condition;

producing a stimulation detectible by the individual with a frequency component at a predetermined difference from the brain wave frequency at a second polarity which is opposite to the first polarity;

determining if a second predetermined time has elapsed from the initiation of the second sequence of steps;

if the second predetermined time has not elapsed, then repeating the second sequence of steps;

if the second predetermined time has elapsed, then beginning the first sequence of steps.

4. A method according to claim 3 wherein:

the brain wave frequency is the dominant brain wave frequency; and

one of the polarities is positive and the other polarity is negative.

5. A method for treating an individual comprising in combination the steps of:

placing an electroencephalogram electrode to the head of the individual;

arranging a strobe light detectable by the individual;

setting a leading percentage polarity and magnitude from the brain wave frequency at that site;

beginning a first sequence of steps by measuring the brain wave frequency of the individual at the site;

determining the peak brain wave frequency;

initializing a strobe frequency using the leading percentage size and polarity as set;

if a predetermined time has not elapsed since the polarity of the leading percentage was last set, then beginning the first sequence of steps;

if the predetermined time has elapsed since the polarity of the leading percentage was last set, then changing the polarity and setting the magnitude;

initializing the strobe frequency using the leading percentage size and polarity as set;

if the individual does not exhibit signs of being photosensitive, then repeating the first sequence of steps; and

if the individual does exhibit signs of being photosensitive, and lower and mid frequency activity slopes with respect to time are positive, then reducing the intensity of the stimulation until the slopes are zero or negative;

if the individual continues to exhibit signs of being photosensitive, the lower and mid frequency activity slopes with respect to time continue to be positive, then reducing the frequency excursion limits, until the slopes are zero or negative; and

if the individual still continues to exhibit signs of being photosensitive, then stopping treating.

6. A method for assessing the flexibility of an individual with respect to treatment by electroencephalographic disentrainment feedback:

selecting an initial site from a plurality of predetermined sites for determining a brain wave frequency of the individual;

producing a stimulation detectible by the individual with a frequency component at an initial difference from the brain wave frequency, the difference being at an initial polarity;

beginning a sequence of steps by recording the brain wave frequency at the selected site;

if the plurality of predetermined sites have not all been selected for the stimulation frequency and polarity, then selecting a site which has not been selected and repeating the sequence of steps from the beginning;

if the plurality of predetermined sites have all been selected for the stimulation frequency and polarity, then determining if there has been a polarity change for the stimulation frequency;

if there has not been a change in polarity for the stimulation frequency, then changing the polarity and repeating the sequence of steps from the beginning;

if there has been a change in polarity for the stimulation frequency, then determining if there has been a change in the difference in frequency;

if there has not been a change in the difference in frequency, then increasing the difference in frequency by a first predetermined amount or a first predetermined percentage, changing the polarity and repeating the sequence of steps from the beginning;

if there has been a change in the difference in frequency, then determining if the difference in frequency is less than a second predetermined amount or a second predetermined percentage;

if the difference in frequency is not less than the second predetermined amount or the second predetermined percentage, then increasing the difference in frequency by the first predetermined amount or the first predetermined percentage, changing the polarity and repeating the sequence of steps from the beginning;

if the difference in frequency is less than the second predetermined amount or the second predetermined percentage, then making a determination of flexibility according to predetermined criteria.