Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
, -
WO96/1~716 PcT~S94/13460
Description
EVALUATING AN INDIVIDUAL WITH ELECTROENCEPHALOGRAPHIC
DISENTRAINMENT FEEDBACK
sackqround o~ the Invention
l. Field of the Invention
The present invention relates generally to methods
and apparatus ~or controlling brain wave frequencies and
to therapeutic uses of such methods and apparatus.
Human brains disturbed by social, mechanical,
chemical or other trauma become both restricted in their
electrical and chemical activity and hypersensitive to
internal and external events and stimuli. In one of its
aspects, the present invention pertains to the
assessment and amelioration of functioning after
psychological and mechanical trauma, or the enhancement
of typical brain functioning, through the disruption of
the restriction and rigidity of neural activity.
2. DescriPtion of Related Art
In the 1960's and early lg70's, Robert Monroe of
the Monroe Institute of Applied Sciences explored the
effects of sound on the brain and discovered that he
could produce a driving or entrainment of brain waves.
Dr. Gerald Oster, a biophysicist, also investigating the
effects of sound on the brain, discovered that
pulsations called binaural beats occurred in the brain
when tones of different frequencies were presented
separately to each ear. The beat frequency eguals the
freguency difference between the two tones. Both Mon~oe
and Oster began using electronic oscillators to provide
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
.,
WO96/15716 PCT~S94/13460
tones with frequency, purity and intensity that can be
precisely controlled.
U.S. Patent No. 3,884,218 to Robert A. Monroe shows
a method for inducing sleep by amplitude modulating a
pleasing sound with a delta-rhythm signal which is
referred to as an "EEG sleep signal."
U.S. Patent No. 4,191,175 to Nagle shows a method
and apparatus for repetitively "producing a noise-like
signal for inducing a hypnotic or anesthetic effect..."
by creating fre~uency bursts of digital pulses that are
then passed through a pink noise filter to get rid of
frequencies above a certain cut-off. The resultant
signal is then passed through a band pass filter and
used to drive an audible signal source.
An apparatus for electrophysiological stimulation
is shown in U.S. Patent No. 4,227,516 to Meland et al.
in which a first signal above the delta-beta frequency
range is modulated by signal within that range and
applied to electrodes on the forehead of a user.
A learning-relaxation device of U.S. Patent No.
4,315,502 has both lights for pulsing signals and sound
means for a pulsing sound signal as well as a control
means which can individually vary the light and sound
signals.
2S U.S. Patent No. 4,834,701 to Masaki shows a device
similar to those used by Monroe and Oster with first and
second generators with frequencies above 16 hertz and a
fre~uency difference of 4 to 16 hertz sounded to lower
the brain wave fre~uency of a user. The term
'~entr~inment~ began to be accepted for such devices:
"This phen~m~non, in which one regular cycle locks into
another, is now called entrainment, or mode locking.U
~Gleick, Chaos: Makinq of a New Science 1987, Penguin
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO96/lS716 PcT~S94113460
--3--
Books, p. 293) An article entitled ~Alpha srain
Waves ~ Bio~eedback Training" in the December 1972
Popular Electronics show a system that uses a person's
own EEG signal to modulate a tone generator which, in
turn, then drives a speaker heard by the same person.
The device allowed a person to ~hear~ his or her own
brain signals in an attempt to voluntarily control the
freguency. A similar device that allows a person to
~see'~ his or her own brain waves is shown in an article
entitled "Mind Power: Alpha" in the July 1976 Radio-
Electronics.
u.S. Patent No. 5,036,858 to John L . Carter and
Harold L. Russell shows the use of EEG electrodes
attached to the head of the user along with an amplifier
for determ;n;ng a current brain wa~e frequency o~ a
user, which is co~ml1nicated to a computer processor. A
new frequency is generated which is between the current
brain wave frequency and a desired brain wave freguency
and is within a predetermined range of the current brain
wave frequency. This has become known as
electroencephalographic entr~;nm~nt feedback if it is
used to "lock" the current brain wave frequency into a
desired frequency.
Prior methods for assessment of neural function
involve radiographic, magnetic, electrical and nuclear
evaluations with eyes open or eyes closed states, or at
best, the neuronal or other activity evoked under
different conditions such as reading, drawing, doing
arithmetic, etc. Static frequency stimulation, even
that steady freguency stimulation which alternates from
time to time, is used to assess the presence and kind of
seizure activity.
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
. ~
WO96/15716 PCT~S94/13460
Methods of treatment have in many ways attempted to
ameliorate brain functioning by either providing the
brain with a faithful and accurate picture of its
activity, or with a means of targeting a desired
freguency, range of frequencies, or relationship among
frequencies, or have targeted theoretically and
empirically derived fre~uency states as a goal of
training or therapy. Methods using feedback have
largely involved conscious, voluntary processes in the
amelioration of neural functioning. Such methods have
not fitted the stimulation frequencies to real-time
measurements of neural frequency. They have taken as a
goal to feedback to the brain information as to success
at reaching target neural activity. These methods
reguire conscious attention, concentration, analysis and
learning.
SummarY of the Invention
~Disentrainment~ is a term coined by the present
inventor to refer to the disruption of entrained brain
wave patterns, patterns which have become in some way
locked. As opposed to entrainment, disentrainment is
more a process that leads to the re-establishment of
biological systems flexibility. As critical as the
ability of a system in its ability to withstand shocks
is ~how well a system can function over a range of
frequencies. A locking-in to a single mode can be
enslavement, preventing a system from adapting to
change.... [N]o heartbeat or respiratory rhythm can be
locked into the strict periodicities of the simplest
physical models, and the same is true of the subtler
rhythms of the rest of the body.~ (Gleick, 1987, p. 293,
italics author's) The EDF system according to the
CA 02205654 1997-05-20
,
WO96~15716 PCT~S94113460
present invention makes more flexible a range of
neurological and neurochemical systems and consequently
improves conditions of patients once thought to be
largely hopeless.
A method ~or treating an individual according to
the present invention is to use electroencephalographic
disentr~;nm~nt feedback to "exercise" the individual's
brain. One such method includes first determining a
reference site for determining a brain wave frequency of
the individual and placing an EEG electrode to the head
of the user at that site or where the brain wave of that
site may be read. Frequently, simply placing the
electrode near the center o~ the individual's forehead
gives satisfactory results which are near the dominant
brain wave freguency.
A first sequence of steps is then begun, including
producing a stimulation detectible by the individual
with a frequency component that is a transform of the
brain wave freguency. The frequency component may be at
a predetermined difference from the brain wave
frequency. Such a transform may include, but not be
limited to, a compression, expansion, phase difference,
statistical sampling or time delay from the brain wave
frequency. Such a stimulation can be of the
conventional sort through light goggles or earphones. A
strobe light can be produced through the goggles or
externally as long as it is sufficiently bright to the
individual. The difference could be either plus or
minus, one is simply picked to be the first polarity,
deter~;n;ng if the entr~;n~ent is to first lead the
brain wave frequency to a higher or a lower frequency.
If a first predetermined time has not elapsed from
the initiation of the first se~uence of steps and the
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO 96/15716 PCI'/US94/13460
brain wave fre~uency has not reached a ~irst limit
corresponding to the first polarity, then the first
se~uence of steps is repeated. If, on the other hand,
the first predetermined time has elapsed or the brain
wave frequency has reached the first limit, then a
second se~uence of steps is begun. Either the first or
the second sequence of steps can be stopped upon a
predetermined stop condition such as end of the session
or an adverse reaction by the individual. The process
is then repeated in the other direction. If the first
polarity was positive, entraining the individual's brain
wave frequency higher, a reasonable upper limit would be
around thirty hertz or even as high as forty hertz.
Once that upper limit is reached or the process is timed
out in the ~irst direction, the polarity would be
changed to negative and the individual's brain wave
would then be entrained downwardly to a second limit,
perhaps as low as two hertz.
Some individuals exhibit extreme sensitivity to
~lickering or strobe type lights. In some, such lights
can even induce seizures. The person administering
treatment needs to remain alert to any symptoms of
hypersensitivity. Certain procedures are built into a
preferred process when a strobe is used. The strobe
~requency is set in the normal way using the leading
percentage size and polarity as set. If the individual
does not exhibit signs of being photosensitive, then the
first sequence of steps is repeated as before. If, on
the other hand, the individual does exhibit signs of
being photosensitive, and the lower and mid frequency
activity slopes with respect to time are positive, then
the intensity of the stimulation is reduced until the
slopes are zero or negative. If the individual
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
. ~ .
WO96/15716 PCT~S94tl3460
continues to exhibit signs of being photosensitive, and
the lower and mid freguency activity slopes with respect
to time continue to be positive, then the frequency
excursion limits are reduced until the slopes are zero
or negative. If the individual continues to exhibit
signs of being photosensitive, the alternating positive
and negative polarities are replaced by either positive
or negative polarity without alternation, depending on
whether the person is h~persensitive to lower or higher
frequencies respectively. If the individual still
continues to exhibit signs of being photosensitive, then
treatment is stopped.
A method according to the present invention for
assessing the flexibility of an individual with respect
l~ to treatment by brain wave variation involves testing
several sites on the head of the individual. The first
step is to select an initial site for determ; n; ng a
brain wave frequency of the individual. Stimulation
detectible by the individual is begun with a frequency
component at an initial difference from the brain wave
frequency, the difference being at a first pola~ity as
before. A sequence of steps is started by recording the
brain wave frequency at the selected site. If the
predetermined sites have not all been selected for the
current frequency and polarity, then use a site that has
not been selected and repeat the sequence of steps from
the beginning. If the predetermined sites have all been
selected for the current frequency and polarity, then
determine if there has been a polarity change for the
current frequency. If there has not been a change in
polarity for the current frequency, then change the
polarity and repeat the sequence of steps from the
beginning. If, to the contrary, there has been a change
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO96115716 . PcT~S94/13460
in polarity for the current frequency, then determine if
there has been a change in the dif~erence in frequency.
If there has not been a change in the difference in
frequency, then increase the difference in frequency by
a first predetermined amount or a first predetermined
percentage, change the polarity and repeat the seguence
o~ steps from the beginning. If there has been a change
in the difference in frequency, then determine if the
difference in frequency is less than a second
predetermined amount or a second predetermined
percentage. If the difference in frequency is not less
than the second predetermined amount or the second
predetermined percentage, then increase the difference
in freguency by the first predetermined amount or the
first predetermined percentage, change the polarity and
repeat the sequence of steps from the beginning. If the
difference in fre~uency is less than the second
predetermined amount or the second predetermined
percentage, then make a determ;nAt}on of flexibility
according to predetermined criteria. Such criteria
might depend on how rapidly the brain of the indïvidual
entrains or how far the maximum excursion extends for
different sites.
It is an object o~ the method of treatment
~5 according to the present invention to modify both
suboptimal and gross post-traumatic neural functioning,
which in the past were modifiable only with great
difficulty because they are neurologically locked.
The assessment method according to the present
invention evaluates neuronal flexibility and maps it in
many graphical forms and mathematically describes both
the spectral characteristics and the brain sites
involved in neuronally rigid dysfunction. This
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
.
WO96/15716 PcT~S94/13460
evaluation is conducted by introducing stimulation into
the senses, which stimulation changes in known ways,
results in surface electrical potentials that can be
analyzed as flexibility, and maps the flexibility of the
brain's ability to follow the changing stimulation.
Mathematical transforms and statistical procedures
permit the assessment of neuronal flexibility and
inflexibility of the brain at various sites, and
empirically tie these ~ualities to treatment plans.
This assessment means introduces stimulation with a
known and constantly changing frequency component. In
one preferred form, the frequency of the stimulation is
set by multiplexed coordination at each of twenty
standard brain sites. The responses to the changing
stimulation at each brain site are transformed and
plotted graphically, allowing brain flexibility to be to
be mapped topographically, and the frequency components
to be graphed over time.
The treatment disruption involved in this method of
neural feedback is brought about by either providing the
brain a distorted feedback representation of its true
activity, or a means of extending its flexibility and
range of functioning. This method connects measurements
of brain activity and, when appropriate, real-time
measurements of autonomic and other physiological
activity, to stimulation of the senses in a way that the
measurements of brain activity define and guide the
stimulation. This method as well distorts the
representation of brain activity returned to it so that
the stimulation returned to the brain is a
transformation and function of the brain activity, which
both disturbs and extends the brain activity beyond its
typical pre-treatment or training excursions and
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO96115716 PCT~S94tl3460
--10--
functioning. This method as well examines the patterns
found in the brain activity and both follows rules and
formulates rules to modify the feedback so that the
goals of increased flexibility and increased excursion
of brain activity are enhanced, while keeping brain
functioning within previously-recognized parameters of
safe brain functioning. This method, as well, involves
nonconscious, involuntary, subcortical process as well
as cortical activity, a~d is very much a passive
process. This method, in short, targets brain process
and function.
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 a preferred embodiment of the
invention.
Brief Description of the Drawinq
FIGURE 1 is a block diagram representation of an
apparatus suitable for the method of the current
invention;
FIGURE 2 is a flow diagram representation of an
overall method according to the present invention for
assessing and treating an individual and, if necessary,
desensitizing the individual to certain stimuli;
FIGURE 3 is a flow diagram representation of a
method thereof for treatment of the individual;
FIGURE 4 is a flow diagram representation of a
method thereof for assessing the flexibility of the
individual with respect to treatment by
electroencephalographi.c disentrainment feedback;
CA 02205654 1997-05-20
. ~ .
WO 96/15716 PCI~/US94/13460
FIGURE 5 is a flow diagram representation of a
method thereof for desensitizing the individual to
certain stimuli; and
FIGURE 6 is a flow diagram representation of a
method thereof for determ;ning if further evaluation or
treatment of the individual is needed.
Description of the Preferred Embodiment
Referring now to the drawing, and in particular to
Figure 1, an apparatus for practicing a method according
to the present invention is represented generally by
reference numeral 10 and would be similar to that shown
in the Carter/Russell patent. Apparatus 10, which can
include a general purpose computer such as any number of
personal computers or a special purpose apparatus,
includes a computer processor such as microprocessor 12,
memory 14 and 16 which can be written to or read from
the microprocessor for storing programs and data, and
meAns such as electrode 18 and amplifier 20 for
determ;n;ng a current brain wave of a user 22.
Electrode 18 and amplifier 20 commlln;cate with
microprocessor 12 through serial port 21. A
programmable timing generator 24 is responsive to
.25 microprocessor 12 and generates a first signal at a
first frequency on a first channel 26 and a second
signal at a second frequency on a second channel 28.
The frequency difference between the first and second
signals is between the current brain wave frequency and
the desired brain wa~e freguency and is within a
predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency.
First audio amplifier 30 along with right earphone 32
sounds the first signal to the right ear of the user,
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO 96/15716 PCI/US94113460
and second audio amplifier 34 along with left earphone
36 sounds the second signal to the left ear of the user.
The first and second signals are combined in beat
fre~uency generator 38. The combined signal is then
ampli~ied by visual amplifier 40, yielding a beat signal
equal to the fre~uency difference which is used to drive
light goggles 42. The light or strobe frequency could,
of course, be generated directly.
Keyboard 44 and display 46, which can be a
conventional computer monitor or a special purpose
liquid crystal or other type display, together with
Microprocessor 12 and memory 14 and 16 could form part
of a personal or even a lap-top computer. Volume,
brightness and balance controls 48 are used to adjust to
the individual user and the purpose of the use. They
could be controlled through the computer rather than
directly as shown.
Referring now to Figure 2, an overall method
according to the present invention for assessing and
treating an individual and, if necessary, desensitizing
the individual to certain stimuli is referred to
generally by reference numeral 50. The overall method
includes a method 52 for assessing the individual for
flexibility with respect to treatment by
electroencephalographic disentrainment feedback, a
method 54 for treating the individual and a method 56
for desensitizing the individual to certain stimuli if
the individual is otherwise too sensitive for treatment
by electroencephalographic disentrainment feedback.
Next, steps 58 are taken to stimulate the individual at
sites with progressively weaker correlations between the
absolute value of the leading percent of the entrainment
freguency to the ~s~;n~nt frequency. This can be a
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO96~15716 PCT~S94/13460
matter of simply selecting a new site and repeating
process 54 except with the new site. One embodiment of
the present invention includes at this point a step 60
of changing the stimulation modality and repeating the
overall method for treatment up to this step. One
example might be to initially just treating the
individual with sound if the individual is sufficiently
hypersensitive to light treatment. After the individual
has been treated with sound only and has improved EEG
flexibility by that means, he or she might then be
treated with low level light. Another situation might
be for an individual who is especially insensitive to
stimulation, one which would initially require full
lights and sound, might then be repeated with lights at
a lower intensity or without sound.
Finally, if no progress is made or an individual
experiences symptoms to the treatment which are adverse,
method 50 includes a method 62 for stimulation-assisted
homing feedback for voluntary self-regulation.
Referring now to Figure 3, one method S0 for
treating an individual according to the present
invention includes first the step 64 of selecting a
reference site, which for the embodiment illustrated is
the center of the forehead, for determining a brain wave
frequency of the individual and placing EEG electrode 18
to the head of the user at that site or where the brain
wave of that site may be read. Frequently, simply
placing the electrode near the center of the
individual's forehead gives satisfactory results which
are near the ~om;n~nt brain wave frequency.
The next step 66 is to set an initial polarity and
magnitude for the leading percent at that site. A
first se~uence 72 of steps is then begun, including the
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO96/15716 PCT~S94/13460
-14-
step 68 of measuring the EEG and the step of calculating
a Fast Fourier Transform to determine the peak frequency
of the individual. A stimulation detectible by the
individual with a fre~uency component at a predetermined
difference ~rom the brain wave frequency is then
produced. Such a stimulation could be of the
conventional sort through light goggles 42 or earphones
22. A strobe light can be produced through the goggles
or externally as long as it is sufficiently bright to
the individual. The difference of the entraining
fre~uency minus the actual brain wave frequency could be
either plus or minus, one polarity is simply picked to
be the first polarity, determ; n; ng i~ the entrainment is
to first lead the brain wave frequency to a higher or a
lower fre~uency.
If a first predetermined time has not elapsed from
the initiation of the first sequence of steps and the
brain wave frequency has not reached a first limit
corresponding to the first polarit~, then the first
sequence of steps is repeated 76. If, on the other
hand, the first predetermined time has elapsed or the
brain wave frequency has reached the first limit, then
exit the first sequence of steps 78. The polarity of
the leading percentage is then changed and its magnitude
determined 80. The strobe and beat freguency is then
set for the new initial value as step 82. A second
sequence of steps is then begun 84 if the individual is
not exhibiting signs of being photosensitive. The
second seguence of steps is the same as the first
sequence but may have different values set for time
limit. Either the first or the second seguence of steps
can be stopped upon a predetermined stop condition such
as end of the session or an adverse reaction by the
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
'.
WO 96/1!;716 PCI~/US94/13460
-15--
individual. If the first polarity was positive,
entraining the individual's brain wave ~requency higher,
a reasonable upper limit would be around thirty hertz or
even as high as forty hertz. Once that upper limit is
reached or the process is timed out in the first
direction, the polarity would be changed to negative and
the individual's brain wave would then be entrained
downwardly to a second limit, perhaps as low as two
hertz.
Some individuals exhibit extreme sensitivity to
flickering or strobe type lights. In some, such lights
can even induce seizures. The person administering
treatment needs to remain alert to any symptoms of
hypersensitivity. The following types of photosensitive
reactions have been observed:
1. feelings of irritability
2. feelings of confusion
3. feelings of anger
4. feelings of fear
5. feelings of lightheadedness
6. headaches
7. anxiety
8. muscle control problems for head injury victims
9. speech interruption problems for head injury ~ictims
10. sleep interruption
11. episodes of increased hypertension.
Other, more objective, standards can be used such as
step of monitoring skin temperature, skin conductance,
heart rate, breathing rate, electromyograph, etc. for
significant changes. Certainly, anything more than a
20% change calls for immediate steps.
Referring to Figure 5, certain procedures for
dealing with hypersensitivity are built into a preferred
CA 0220~6~4 1997-0~-20
WO96115716 PCT~S94/13460
process when a strobe is used beginning at 86. If the
individual does exhibit signs of being photosensitive,
and the lower and mid frequency activity slopes with
respect to time are positive, then the intensity of the
stimulation is reduced 90 until the slopes are zero or
negative. If the individual continues to exhibit signs
of being photosensitive, and the lower and mid frequency
activity slopes with respect to time continue to be
positive, then the frequency excursion limits are
reduced 92 until the slopes are zero or negative. If
the individual still continues to exhibit signs of being
photosensitive, then treatment is stopped 94.
Referring now to Figure 4, it is normally desirable
to assess the flexibility of an individual with respect
to treatment by brain wave variation. One such method
according to the present invention involves testing
several sites on the head of the individual. This can
be accomplished with apparatus similar to that already
described, but rather than frequently moving single EEG
electrode 18, it is more convenient to use a multiple
site electrode cap such as ones made by Electrocap
International of Eaton, Ohio and covered by U.S. Patent
Numbers 4,085,739 and 4,323,076. The first step 96
after selecting an initial site is to determine a brain
wave frequency of the individual. This step is repeated
for all sites to be tested 98, both polarities l00 and
for leading percent sizes 102 up to a maximum, in this
case 50%. Stimulation detectible by the individual is
begun with a fre~uency component at an initial
difference from the brain wave freguency, the difference
being at a first polarity as before. A sequence of
steps is started by recording the brain wave frequency
at the selected site. If the predetermined sites have
CA 02205654 1997-05-20
WO 96/15716 PCT/US94113460
not all been selected for the current ~re~uency and
polarity, then use a site which has not been selected
and repeat the sequence of steps from the beginning. If
the predetermined sites have all been selected for the
current freguency and polarity, then determine if there
has been a polarity change for the current freguency.
If there has not been a change in polarity for the
current frequency, then change the polarity and repeat
the sequence of steps from the beginning. If, to the
contrary, there has been a change in polarity for the
current frequency, then determine if there has been a
change in the difference in frequency. If there has not
been a change in the difference in frequency, then
increase the difference in frequency by a first
predetermined amount or a first predetermined
percentage, in this case 10~. Change the polarity and
repeat the sequence of steps from the beginning. If
there has been a change in the difference in frequency,
then determine if the difference in frequency is less
than a second predetermined amount or a second
predetermined percentage, in the particular case
illustrated, 50~. If the difference in frequency is not
less than the second predetermined amount or the second
predetermined percentage, then increase the difference
in ~requency by the first predetermined amount or the
first predetermined percentage, change the polarity and
repeat the sequence of steps from the beginning. If the
dif~erence in fre~uency is less than the second
predetermined amount or the second predetermined
percentage, then make a det~rm;n~tion of flexibility
according to predetermined criteria. Such criteria
might depend on how rapidly the ~rain of the individual
CA 02205654 1997-05-20
, ~
WO96115716 PCT~S94/13460
-18-
disentrains or how far the maximum excursion extends for
different sites.
Finally, referring to Figure 6, certain closing
considerations are part of the preferred process and
referred to by reference numeral 104.
Example 1
As one specific example of a method according to
the present invention, there are clinical situations in
which it is ultimately desirable to have reasonably high
amplitudes of low frequency activity. ~Ultimately~ is
emphasized because under some speci~ic conditions the
lowering of frequency activity has been shown to be
proper only after the percentage of high frequency
acti~ity is initially raised. The conditions for the
raising of the EEG are here described before those that
will benefit by its lowering. These conditions apply
when the following disorders are discovered to be
accompanied by underlying attention deficit disorder
characterized by problems with memory, attention,
concentration:
- post-traumatic stress
? 5 - depression
- addiction.
For these problems, the amplitude of the high fre~uency
EEG should be raised until thère is observed an
improvement in memory, attention and concentration.
Typically, the feedback frequency is set between 105%
and 150% of the EEG frequency. After the work on higher
frequency enhancement is finished, lower freguency
entr~;~m~nt, setting the leading frequencies between 9S~
CA 0220~6~4 1997 - 0~ - 20
WO 96115716 PCI'/US9411346~)
--19--
. , .
and 50~ of the EEG freguency, will often bring with it
thought and behavior which the patient has avoided for
many years: physical symptomatology flare-ups, emotional
reactions, perceptual distortions, mood changes, etc.
Although these will be clearly noticed - usually after
the third or fourth ten minute session - these
experiences have often been guite tolerable to the
patients to the extent that they have not typically
defended themselves against them.
On the rare instance when there has been continued
or exacerbated defensiveness, the strobe stimulus was
terminated after 60 seconds and patients have discovered
underlying emotions which were then ~uite manageable.
It was important to stop the feedback under these
conditions so that the feedback did not become a
distracter and artificial defense.
The method of EEG disentrainment feedback according
to present invention has also been used with higher
~requency enhancement for the following disorders:
- attention deficit
- seizure
- migraine
- post-concussive impairment
- anxiety
- appetite intrusiveness (to suppress appetite).
Sessions usually last ten minutes initially to acclimate
the individual, but they may go as long as twenty or
thirty minutes of connect time.
From the foregoing it will be seen that this
invention is well adapted to attain all of the ends and
objectives hereinabove set forth, together with other
advantages which are inherent to the apparatus.
CA 02205654 1997-05-20
;
WO96/1~716 PcT~s94/13460
-20-
It will be understood that certain features and sub
combinations are of utility and may be employed without
reference to other features and sub combinations. 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 figures of the accompanying drawings is to
be interpreted as illustrative and not in a limiting
sense.
