Patent No. 4736751 Brain wave source network location scanning method and system

 

Patent No. 4736751  Brain wave source network location scanning method and system (Gevins, et al., Apr 12, 1988)

Abstract

A method and system is provided for the analysis of a human subject's brain wave activity on a statistical basis using a digital computer. The location of portions of the subject's brain and the location of at least 32, and for example 265, external scalp sensors are digitally recorded and stored in computer memory. The subject receives a set of stimuli which evoke brain waves (evoked potential EP or evoked magnetic fields EF) which, along with the location data, are statistically analyzed to indicate the brain sites giving rise to the activity. The brain site activity, and the time interrelationships of brain waves as they progress between brain sites, are displayed on a three-dimensional model or other three-dimensional perspective display.

Notes: 

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A number of scientific articles have been published regarding experiments directed to associating specific activity, such as vision, with specific areas of the human brain. Some of these experiments involve invasive techniques on animals, for example, the use of implanted electrodes or chemical dyes.

However, other studies have taken a different approach and have attempted to discover what happens in a person's brain when a person performs a task, like raising his finger, by placing electrodes or other sensors on or near the person's scalp. Those electrodes or sensors detect the tiny, microvolt or femtotesla level, electrical or magnetic activity at the surface of the scalp.

The detection of such faint brain wave signals is difficult because of the noisy electrical and magnetic environment created by hundreds of cars, electric lights, etc., etc. In addition, physiological "artifacts", which are electrical signals arising, for example, from scalp muscle activity or the eye blink of the subject, may produce an electrical and magnetic wave which is stronger than the subject's brain waves.

The detection and analysis of brain waves is even more difficult when the interest is in locating the specific three-dimensional sites giving rise to the waves and how the sites communicate with each other deep within the brain, as the subject responds to stimuli.

As an example of stimulus presentation, a subject is placed before a TV monitor. The letter "V" appears. If it slants to the left, the subject is to get ready to push a button with his left hand when a number appears on the monitor, and, if it slants to the right, he should get ready to push a button with his right hand. This is a simple task. But it has proven difficult to localize and display, in a readily comprehendable form, the dynamic brain wave activity ("mass neuroelectric processes") which give rise to the subject's ability to recognize the stimuli, i.e., to recognize the "V" and the subsequent number (cognitive behavior) and to physically react (perceptumotor), i.e., move his hand.

There are not now presently commercially available any non-invasive methods or systems which will locate selected brain sites, and display what occurs at those sites in response to stimuli and responses, in an accurate three-dimensional appearing display.
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Brainwave source network scanning system and method. Filed December 1986, granted April 1988. Funded by Air Force. Way to monitor brain evoked potentials and evoked magnetic fields. Could easily be used with or as a part of the remote neural monitoring part of the psychotronic weaponry.

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