Method for improving memory by identifying and using QEEG parameters correlated to specific cognitive functioning

• US 6,309,361 B1
• Filed: 04/29/1999
• Issued: 10/30/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/1998
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Kirtley E. Thornton
• Original Assignee: Kirtley E. Thornton
• Inventors: Thornton, Kirtley E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Bockelman, Mark
• Application Number:
  US09/302,321
• Time in Patent Office: 915 Days
• Field of Search: 600/544, 600/545
• US Class Current: 600/544
• 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: A61B 5/377 using evoked responses
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4088 Diagnosing of monitoring cognitive diseases, e.g. Alzheimer, prion diseases or dementia

Abstract

Mental abilities are labeled with terms such as memory, problem solving, spelling, etc. and can be measured by psychological measures such as recall score, etc. The physical correlates of brain functioning employ such measures as blood flow, electrophysiological events, etc. The relationship between these different scientific domains is called the mind-body problem. The submitted patent addresses the empirically obtained correlative relationships between a number of cognitive capabilities and the Quantitative EFG (QEEG) measures (coherence, phase, magnitude, etc.) during cognitive activation conditions. The QEEG measures reflect the electrophysiology of the gray matter of the brain underlying the scalp. The cognitive abilities addressed include memory for auditory (paragraphs, word lists) and visual (faces, Korean characters, reading material) information (immediate and delayed recall ability), spatial problem solving (Raven'"'"'s Matrices), spelling, mathematical ability (multiplication, internal spatial addition), pronunciation of nonsense (not real) words, memory for autobiographical information, intentions and where objects have been placed. The patent addresses the different patterns which are responsible for effective cognitive functioning in the adult and child population as well as the normal response patterns across the tasks for the two groups. The relationship between cognitive success of auditory memory ability (paragraphs, word lists) was examined for the eyes closed and auditor, attention condition. The analysis reflected the positive relationship between certain QEEG variables across different cognitive conditions. The value of the patent resides in providing the specific QEEG parameters which are responsible for specitic cognitive abilities. These QEEG variables can be effectively changed through an operant biofeedback conditioning methodology.

Claims

1. In a live human subject having a head and having observed or experienced an event, or the like, a method for improving memory of the event, object or the like comprising the steps of exposing the subject to a cognitive task related to the event, object or the like during a session;

attaching an electrodes on the head;

measuring QEEG brain functions during the session;

recording the session and recording the QEEG measurements;

converting the QEEG data obtained from the subject'"'"'s data into an ASCII file;

importing the QEEG data into a statistical computer analysis program loaded on a computer;

correlating performance on each particular task with the QEEG parameters across a norm derived from a control group of subjects;

correlating the QEEG parameters which have positive correlations with memory performance; and

communicating the positively correlated QEEG parameters back to the subject in the form of verbal information by coaching the subject whereby after the subject is coached by an operator sufficiently such that an increase the positively correlated QEEG parameters is measured and the memory of the subject is objectively and measurably improved.

2. A method as claimed in claim 1 further comprising determining the electrical output of a brain region in the head of the subject from said electrodes generated via an QEEG unit about the head of a human, obtaining from the electrodes a QEEG electrical signal being first data representative of energy in the brain region in a primary frequency domain, determining from the electrodes an electrical signal being second data representative of energy in the primary frequency domain relative to the energy in a secondary frequency domain, relating the first data with the second data thereby obtaining a value representative of electrical output in the brain region, and presenting such value as determining a selected norm, and wherein relating is effected by determining an increase or decrease of the first data and increase or decrease of the second data relative to the selected norm and indicating a improvement of memory condition when the first data and the second data both increase or decrease relative to the selected norm, and indicating a lack of improvement in memory condition when one of the first data and the second data respectively increase or decrease relative to the selected norm while the other of the first data or second data, respectively, is oppositely directed relative to the selected norm.

3. A method according to claim 1 further comprising the additional step of delineation of a set of specific QEEG variables from a full set of QEEG variables available and identified as responsible for cognitive abilities;

and the additional step of identification of the relationship between the resting levels associated with the set of specific QEEG variables wherein eyes are closed and a set of comparison QEEG levels related to auditory attention whereby future success in auditory memory tasks has been defined.

4. A method according to claim 3 further comprising the step of comparing the live human subject'"'"'s response pattern under activation conditions to a normative reference group'"'"'s pattern of activation for said specified QEEG variables and the additional step of marking of the specific QEEG variables and associating and selecting a group of QEEG variables wherein said selected QEEG variables are associated with success in performing a pre-specified task.

5. A method according to claim 4 wherein said selected QEEG variables are parameters associated with auditory memory ability, auditory-visual memory ability, spelling ability, mathematical ability, or pronunciation ability.

6. A method for providing a diagnostic test for a brain of a human to ascertain specific weak areas of cognitive functioning, the brain comprising the steps of exposing the subject to a cognitive task related to the event, object or the like during a session;

attaching an electrode cap on the head;

measuring QEEG brain functions during the session;

recording the session and recording the QEEG measurements;

converting the QEEG data obtained from the subject'"'"'s data into an ASCII file;

importing the QEEG data into a statistical computer analysis program loaded on a computer;

correlating performance on each particular task with the QEEG parameters across a norm derived from a control group of subjects; and

then correlating the QEEG parameters which have positive correlations with memory performance.

7. A method for providing a diagnostic test for a brain of a human to ascertain presence of an ineffective use of a recall strategy comprising the steps of exposing the subject to a cognitive task related to the event, object or the like during a session;

attaching an electrode cap on the head;

measuring QEEG brain functions during the session;

recording the session and recording the QEEG measurements;

converting the QEEG data obtained from the subject'"'"'s data into an ASCII file;

importing the QEEG data into a statistical computer analysis program loaded on a computer;

correlating performance on each particular task with the QEEG parameters across a norm derived from a control group of subjects; and

then correlating the QEEG parameters which have positive correlations with memory performance.