Method to improve concentration and/or memory in a subject in need thereof

• US 8,734,317 B2
• Filed: 05/23/2008
• Issued: 05/27/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 05/25/2007
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University (Main Line Health System), Young Hyun Lim
• Original Assignee: Thomas Jefferson University (Main Line Health System), Young Hyun Lim
• Inventors: Sperling, Michael R., Tracy, Joseph I., Lim, Young Hyun
• Primary Examiner(s): Matthews, Christine
• Assistant Examiner(s): LANNU, JOSHUA DARYL DEANON
• Application Number:
  US12/126,193
• Publication Number:
  US 20090023977A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,195 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/27, 607/88, 607/90, 434/236, 434/323
• US Class Current: 600/27
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0033 subsonic
• CPC Class Codes: A61M 2021/0044 by the sight sense
• 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: A61N 2005/0662 Visible light
• CPC Class Codes: A61N 5/0618 Psychological treatment

Abstract

The present invention is directed to a method of treatment to improve at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in a subject in need thereof by controlled administration of synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones.

Claims

1. A method to improve at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in a subject by audio-visual entrainment, the method comprising:

a) selecting a subject in need of improvement in the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief;

b) administering artificially synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones to the subject, wherein the artificially synchronized flashes of light are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz and wherein the artificially synchronized pulsed tones are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz, and

c) measuring of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject,

wherein the measurement of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject is improved,

wherein the flashes of light have a wavelength in the range of 400 to 720 nm and a brightness in the range of greater than 0 to less than or equal to 16 Lx, and

wherein the flashes of light include a wave form with a varying frequency.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the varying frequency includes at least one of an ascending frequency and a descending frequency.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the flashes of light and pulsed tones are administered in-phase, out-phase, or a combination thereof,

wherein in-phase administration of the flashes of light and pulsed tones comprises administration of flashes of light and pulsed tones on a left channel and a right channel at the same time, or

wherein the out-phase administration of the flashes of light and pulsed tones comprises administration of flashes of light and pulsed tones on a left channel and a right channel at different times.

4. The method of claim 1, wherein administering the artificially synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones occurs for a period of 15 to 60 minutes.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein administering the artificially synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones for a period of 15 to 30 minutes.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein administering the artificially synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones occurs daily for three or more days.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with ADHD.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject has been diagnosed with developmental impairment of executive function.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is suffering from age-related memory loss.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the subject is at risk for age-related memory loss.

11. The method of claim 1, further comprising:

administering sounds of nature.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the sounds of nature include at least one of river gurgling, birds chirping, rain drops, and ocean waves.

13. The method of claim 1 further comprising:

establishing a baseline score for the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief for the subject prior to administering the artificially synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones; and

measuring an improved score for the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief for the subject after administering the artificially synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones.

14. The method of claim 1 wherein stress-relief includes at least one of increasing relaxation, decreasing anxiety, and increasing restorative sleep.

15. A computer implemented method to improve at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in a subject by audio-visual entrainment, comprising:

on a computing device having one or more processors and a memory storing one or more programs for execution by the one or more processors, the one or more programs including instructions for;

administering synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones to a subject in need of improvement in the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief, wherein the synchronized flashes of light are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz and wherein the synchronized pulsed tones are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz, and

measuring of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject,

wherein the measurement of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject is improved, and

wherein the flashes of light include a wave form with a varying frequency.

16. A computer system to improve at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in a subject by audio-visual entrainment, comprising:

one or more processors; and

memory configured to store;

one or more programs configured to be executed by the one or more processors, the one or more programs comprising instructions for;

administering synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones to a subject in need of improvement in the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief, wherein the synchronized flashes of light are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz and wherein the synchronized pulsed tones are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz, and

measuring of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject,

wherein the measurement of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject is improved, and

wherein the flashes of light include a wave form with a varying frequency.

17. A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing one or more programs configured to be executed by one or more processing units at a computer comprising instructions for:

administering synchronized flashes of light and pulsed tones to a subject in need of improvement in at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief, wherein the synchronized flashes of light are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz and wherein the synchronized pulsed tones are in the frequency range of 4-12 Hz, and

measuring of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject,

wherein the measurement of the at least one of concentration, memory, cognitive performance, and stress-relief in the subject is improved, and

wherein the flashes of light include a wave form with a varying frequency.