Patent No. 5788648 Electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring responses to quantified stimuli
Patent No. 5788648
Electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring responses to quantified stimuli (Nadel, Aug 4, 1988)
Abstract
An electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring a person's response to external stimuli, which includes electroencephalographic sensing apparatus for sensing brainwave signals from the person; stimulating apparatus for generating the stimuli; and processing apparatus having at least a first input operative for receiving the brainwave signals, at least a second input for monitoring the stimuli; the processing apparatus including computing apparatus operative for computing a correlation quotient of the brainwave signals and the stimuli.
Notes:
Electroencephalographic apparatus for exploring responses to quantified stimuli. Filed March 1997, granted August 1998. Another example of monitoring specific response to stimulus and correlating them. Does mention ?other' types of sensing apparatus and 'other' means for applying stimuli. Mentions correlating different responses, using evoked potentials, to different forms of stimuli. Depending on the extent of data stored in the memory system, this would/could be how the attackers see and hear what the person under attack sees and hears. Would also apply to other sensory inputs. Mentions other impressions (brainwave signals in response to) magnetic, electric, temperature, etc. Also mentions real time electromagnetic transmissions of the data and mentions satellites.
BACKGROUND
OF THE INVENTION
A considerable amount of research has been undertaken in exploring the nature
and significance of human brainwaves, as they can be studied by sensitive electronic
sensing devices.
Encephalographic devices are described in U.S. Pat. No. 4,013,068, which relates
to an encephalographic activated control system, U.S. Pat. No. 5,356,368, which
describes methods and apparatus for entraining human brain patterns by means
of frequency following response techniques. In this reference, in one embodiment,
a plurality of electroencephalographic wave forms characteristic of a given
state of consciousness, are combined to yield an electroencephalographic waveform
to which subjects may be susceptible. U.S. Pat. No. 5,123,899 shows examples
of different brainwaves.
From the prior art it is known that human brain wave signals can be resolved
into so-called alpha-waves, beta-waves, delta-waves and so forth, and that each
react differently in response to external stimuli, such as light, sounds, smells,
tactile stimuli, etc.
Applicant, however, is unaware of earlier explorations directed to the object
of correlating quantitatively any connection between external stimuli and the
brainwave responses of a human brain. In this context the range of interest
is especially directed to the domain of quantifying a relation between various
phases of external stimuli and resulting brain waves, but not limited to responses
to quantifiable stimuli that can be expressed and measured quantitatively.
The invention is by extension also directed to the domain of quantifying a so-called
auto-correlation between various phases of application of external stimuli.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
The invention is directed to the art of expanding the art of exploring and analyzing
a person's responses to stimuli, i.e. stimulations applied in the form of quantifiable
stimuli including, but not limited to, external stimuli in the form of any one
of and combinations of oral, visual, tactile, acoustic and/or olfactory stimuli.
In accordance with the invention, there is provided electroencephalographic
apparatus for exploring a person's response to external stimuli, which includes
electroencephalographic sensing apparatus for sensing brainwave signals from
the person; stimulating apparatus for generating the stimuli; and processing
apparatus having at least a first input operative for receiving the brainwave
signals, at least a second input for monitoring the stimuli; the processing
apparatus including computing apparatus operative for computing a correlation
quotient of the brainwave signals and the stimuli.
According to a further feature of the invention the electroencephalographic
sensing apparatus includes brainwave signal sensing apparatus coupled to the
person's brain, and amplifying apparatus coupled to the brainwave signal sensing
apparatus for amplifying and conditioning the brainwaves for entry to the processing
apparatus.
According to another feature, the apparatus according to the invention includes
stimulating apparatus having quantizing apparatus for quantizing the stimuli,
wherein further the stimuli include at least one of visual, oral, tactile, acoustic
and olfactory stimuli.
According to an additional feature, the quantizing apparatus includes a quantifier
having an output coupled to the processing apparatus, wherein the processing
apparatus includes a microprocessor, and a memory coupled to the processor for
storing processing programs for the microprocessor.
Again, according to another feature a Fourier algorithm is stored in the memory
for transforming the brainwave signal into a Fourier signal, wherein the Fourier
algorithm can be a fast Fourier algorithm.
According to a still further feature, the apparatus according to the invention
provides a correlation transform stored in the memory for generating a correlation
coefficient between the brainwave signal and the stimuli.
The apparatus according to the invention may further include an encryption algorithm
stored in the memory for encrypting the correlation coefficient.
In the inventive apparatus, the brainwave signal can be divided into phases
including an early phase before receipt of the stimuli, and a later phase following
the stimuli, and the correlation transform algorithm may be operative for generating
an auto-correlation coefficient based on the correlation between the early and
the later phases.
The invention may further include data transmission apparatus for transmitting
the correlation factor to a receiving entity spaced apart from the processing
apparatus, and a data base in the memory for storing computing data for the
microprocessor.
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