Electroencephalic neurofeedback apparatus for training and tracking of cognitive states

• US 5,406,957 A
• Filed: 09/14/1993
• Issued: 04/18/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 02/05/1992
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Emtee Associates, L.P.
• Original Assignee: Michael A. Tansey
• Inventors: Tansey, Michael A.
• Primary Examiner(s): Pellegrino, Stephen C.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Tucker, Guy V.
• Application Number:
  US08/121,373
• Time in Patent Office: 581 Days
• Field of Search: 128/731, 128/732, 128/746, 364/413.03, 364/413.02, 364/572, 364/576, 364/413.04, 364/413.05, 364/413.13, 364/413.2
• US Class Current: 600/545
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/375 using biofeedback
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/7257 using Fourier transforms
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/742 using visual displays A61B5/339 takes precedence

Abstract

A biofeedback system provides measurement of bioelectric signals in up to about a 1 hertz window of particular bandwidths. A bioelectric signal is amplified by a preamplifier. The composite amplitude of the signal is determined by performing a fast Fourier transform on the amplified signal. Particular bandwidths can be displayed and monitored on a computer. The display permits training of the person being monitored with audio or verbal feedback.

Claims

1. An apparatus for monitoring a brainwave signature of a cognitive state of a person comprising:

detecting means for detecting a bioelectric EEG signal from said person;

amplifying means for amplifying said detected bioelectric EEG signal, said amplified bioelectric signal including a set of bandwidths, each of said bandwidths having a range of one hertz or less around a selected frequency;

digital signal processing means for processing said set of bandwidths, said signal processing means including performing fast Fourier transforms on said bandwidths for determining respective amplitudes for each of said bandwidths in said set of bandwidths; and

display means for displaying said respective amplitudes in respective windows of a computer display;

wherein said brainwave signature of said cognitive state of said person is displayed as said respective amplitudes.

2. The apparatus of claim 1 further comprising:

storage means in said computer for storing said brainwave signature.

3. The apparatus of claim 2 wherein said brainwave signature is displayed in real time.

4. The apparatus of claim 3 wherein said bioelectric signal is detected at a rate of 8,000 times per second.

5. The apparatus of claim 4 wherein the detected bioelectric signal is amplified by a factor of about 100.

6. The apparatus of claim 5 further comprising:

sound means, said sound means including a respective music score for each of said bandwidths, said sound means increasing the loudness of said respective music score in response to an increase in said amplitude of said bandwidths.

7. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein one of said selected frequencies is 28 Hz.

8. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein three of said selected frequencies are 7, 10 and 16 Hz.

9. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein four of said selected frequencies are 7, 10, 16 and 28 Hz.

10. The apparatus of claim 1 wherein three of said selected frequencies are 7, 10 and 12 Hz.

11. A method for monitoring a brainwave signature of a cognitive state of a person comprising the steps of:

detecting a bioelectric EEG signal from said person;

amplifying said detected bioelectric EEG signal, said amplified bioelectric signal including a set of bandwidths, each of said bandwidths having a range of one hertz or less around a selected frequency;

processing said set of bandwidths, said processing step including performing a fast Fourier transforms on said bandwidths in a digital computer for determining respective amplitudes for each of said bandwidths in said set of bandwidths; and

displaying said respective amplitudes in respective windows of a computer display,

wherein said brainwave signature of said cognitive state of said person is displayed as said respective amplitudes.

12. The method of claim 11 further comprising the step of:

storing said brainwave signatures in a computer storage means.