Patent No. 5036858 Method and apparatus for changing brain wave frequency
Patent No. 5036858
Method and apparatus for changing brain wave frequency (Carter, et al., Aug 6, 1991) (RE36,348 Carter, et al., Oct 19, 1999)
Abstract
A method for changing brain wave frequency to a desired frequency determines a current brain wave frequency of a user, generates two frequencies with a frequency difference of a magnitude between that of the current actual brain wave frequency and the desired frequency but always within a predetermined range of the current actual brain wave frequency, and produces an output to the user corresponding to the two frequencies. One apparatus to accomplish the method has a computer processor, a computer memory, EEG electrodes along with an amplifier, a programmable timing generator responsive to the computer processor for generating the two frequencies, audio amplifiers and a beat frequency generator driving a visual frequency amplifier.
Notes:
DISCLOSURE
OF INVENTION
A method for stimulating a user according to the present invention includes
first determining a desired brain wave frequency and then determining the actual
current brain wave frequency of a user, allowing for the possibility that one
user could have more than one brain wave frequency at the same time. First and
second signals having first and second frequencies are then generated, the frequency
difference being between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain
wave frequency, but also being within a certain range of the current brain wave
frequency. An output corresponding to the first and second signals and detectable
by the user is then produced. The output can be sound or light or even electrical
current. The first and second signals can be combined first before sounding
or can be presented separately to, one to each ear, with the resultant binaural
beat.
The steps are repeated until the desired brain wave frequency is reached. The
procedure then followed depends upon the particular situation. The desired frequency
con be maintained for some predetermined period of time, after which a new desired
frequency can be determined. One likely replacement for the desired frequency
is the original brain wave frequency of the user as it was when the session
began. Another possibility would be to take the user to a rest frequency between
"work" sessions. Another possibility would be to generate no signal at all for
a period of time.
A preferred form of an apparatus according to the present invention for urging
the brain wave frequency of a user toward a desired frequency includes a computer
processor, a memory which can be written to and read from the computer processor,
means such as EEG electrodes attached to the head of the user along with an
amplifier for determining a current brain wave frequency of a user, which means
communicates with the computer processor, a programmable timing generator responsive
to the computer processor, generating at least a first and a second signal,
and means detectable by the user for producing an output corresponding to the
first and second signals. The frequency difference between the first and second
signals is between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave
frequency and is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency.
These and other objects, advantages and features of this invention will be apparent
from the following description taken with reference to the accompanying drawing,
wherein is shown the preferred embodiments of the invention.
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It
will be understood that certain features and subcombinations are of utility
and may be employed without reference to other features and subcombinations.
This is contemplated by and is within the scope of the claims.
As many possible embodiments may be made of the invention without departing
from the scope thereof, it is to be understood that all matter herein set forth
or shown in the accompanying drawing is to be interpreted as illustrative and
not in a limiting sense.
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