Patent No. 5954630 FM theta-inducung audible sound, and method, device and recorded medium to generate the same

 

Patent No. 5954630

FM theta-inducung audible sound, and method, device and recorded medium to generate the same (Masaki, et al., Sep 21, 1999)

Abstract

An audible sound of modulated wave where a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower is superposed on an audio low-frequency wave effectively stimulates Fm theta in human brain waves to improve attention and concentration during mental tasks when auditorily administered. The audible sound is also effective in stimulation of human alpha wave when the very low-frequency wave lies within the range of about 2-10 hertz. Such audible sound is artificially obtainable by generating an electric signal which contains such a modulated wave, and transducing it into audible sound wave.

Notes:

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

In view of the foregoing, one object of this invention is to provide an audible sound which enables artificial induction of Fm theta in human when auditorily administered.

Another object of this invention is to provide a method which enables artificial generation of such audible sound.

Further object of this invention is to provide a device which enables artificial generation of such audible sound.

Still further object of this invention is to provide a recorded medium which reproduceablly records such audible sound.

The present inventors studied various means which might solve these objects, leading to the finding that Fm theta much more strongly and extensively appeared in human when administered via the auditory sense with an audible sound containing a modulated wave where a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower was superposed on an audio low-frequency wave. The present inventors further studied various methods and devices which might enable artificial generation of such audible sound, leading to the finding that it was easily obtainable by amplitude-modulating an audio low-frequency with a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower, and subjecting to electroacoustic transduction the obtained electric signal which contained a modulated wave where the very low-frequency wave was superposed on the audio low-frequency wave.

Based on these novel findings, this invention provides an Fm theta-inducing audible sound which contains a modulated wave where a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower is superposed on an audio low-frequency wave.

This invention also provides a method to generate such audible sound, which comprises amplitude-modulating an audio low-frequency with a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower, and subjecting to electroacoustic transduction the obtained electric signal which contains a modulated wave where very low-frequency wave is superposed on the audio low-frequency wave.

Further this invention provides a device to induce Fm theta, which comprises a modulated wave-generating circuitry to generate a modulated wave where a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower is superposed on an audio low-frequency wave, and an electroacoustic transducer to transduce said modulated wave into an audible sound, said electroacoustic transducer being connected with an output terminal of said modulated wave-generating circuitry.

Still further this invention provides a recorded medium to induce Fm theta, which bears a track of magnetically or optically recorded modulated wave where a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower is superposed on an audio low-frequency wave, said recorded medium giving an audible sound containing said modulated wave when reproduced.

The audible sound of this invention stimulates the appearance of Fm theta in human brain waves when auditorily administered. In particular the audible sound also stimulates the appearance of alpha wave when the very low-frequency lies within the range of about 2-10 hertz.

The method and device of this invention are to artificially generate such audible sound: Amplitude modulation of an audio low-frequency wave by a very low-frequency wave of about 20 hertz or lower gives an electric signal containing a modulated wave where the very low-frequency wave is superposed on the audio low-frequency wave. Electroacoustic transduction of this electric signal gives an audible sound which contains the above mentioned modulated wave. The recorded medium of this invention gives an audible sound which contains a modulated wave where a very low-frequency wave is superposed on an audio low-frequency wave when reproduced with appropriate reproducing devices.

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As described above, Fm theta is a good criterion for attention and concentration, therefore the results in this Experiment suggest that when used in mental tasks in general, the audible sound of this invention would improve the users' attention and concentration and keep their efficiency and accuracy during the tasks in an elevated level. The progressing rates (%) for the Kraepelin test also confirmed this: As seen in Table 1, the progressing rates (%) during task were significantly enhanced when the volunteers were loaded with it while listening to the audible sound of this invention.

The audible sound of this invention stimulates the appearance of Fm theta in subjects' brain waves when they listen to it. The audible sound also stimulates the appearance of alpha wave when the very low-frequency wave lies in the range of about 2-10 hertz. Thus the audible sound of this invention improves and stimulates in subjects desirable states in their mind and body, i.e. attention, concentration and relaxation, to which Fm theta and alpha wave are relevant when they listen to it.

Because of these, the audible sound of this invention is effective in relaxation of mind and body, improvement of creativity and efficiency in studies and relief or elimination of reduction in thinking power, concentration, working motivation, insomnia, fatigue, obsession, phobia and uncompleteness, for example, due to mental diseases such as neurosis, psychasthenia, psychosomatic disease, manic-depressive psychosis and chronic alcohol dependence and stresses including technostresses which are caused by electromagnetic waves from television set, video display, OA instrument and igniter for automobiles, in addition to improvement of attention and concentration. Thus the audible sound of this invention is useful as means to improve efficiency, accuracy, learning ability, researching ability and creativity in mental tasks and also to improve concentration during playing sports at home, working place, stadium, school, "gakushu-juku (a school for private tutoring after regular school hours)", training place, research institution and atorie, as well as means to prevent and treat a variety of mental diseases at working place, clinic, hospital and sanatorium. Dependently on subjects, the audible sound of this invention may stimulate the appearance of Fm theta with very short-term dose or even with no dose when subjects have listened to it over an extended time period. The audible sound of this invention is useful as mental training means for such subjects. Further the audible sound, which is useful as described above, is artificially and readily obtainable by the method of this invention.

The audible sound, which is very useful as described above, is easily obtainable by the method, device and recorded medium of this invention.

As described above, this invention would be greatly contributive to the art and very significant.