US4883067A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Method and apparatus for translating the EEG into music to induce and control various psychological and physiological states and to control a musical instrument
Assignee: Neurosonics Inc
•
Filing: 1987-05-15
•
Granted: 1989-11-28
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Expires: 2007-05-15
Abstract
Abstract A method and apparatus for applying a musical feedback signal to the human brain, or any other brain, to induce controllable psychological and physiological responses. A signal representing the ongoing electroencephalographic (EEG) signal of a brain preferably is obtained from the electrode location on the scalp known as CZ or P3 in clinical notation. A signal processor converts the ongoing EEG into electrical signals which are converted into music by synthesizers. The music is acoustically fed back to the brain after a time delay calculated to shift the phase of the feedback in order to reinforce specific or desired ongoing EEG activity from the scalp position of interest. The music is comprised of at least one voice that follows the moment-by-moment contour of the EEG in real time to reinforce the desired EEG activity. The music drives the brain into resonance with the music to provide a closed loop or physiological feedback effect. Preferably, the musical feedback comprises additional voices that embody psychoacoustic principles as well as provide the content and direction normally supplied by the therapist in conventional biofeedback. The invention contemplates numerous applications for the results obtained.
Inventors
- 👤 Joel Knispel
- 👤 Geoffrey Wright
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-10-24 13:05
CPC Classifications
A; A61; A61B; A61B5/00; A61B5/24; A61B5/316; A61B5/369; A61B5/375; A61M; A61M21/00; G; G10; G10H; G10H1/00; A61M2021/0005; A61M2021/0027; A61M2230/00; A61M2230/08; A61M2230/10; G10H2220/00; G10H2220/155; G10H2220/371; G10H2220/376; G10H2230/00; G10H2230/045; G10H2230/251; G10H2230/351; G10H2250/00; G10H2250/471; G10H2250/475
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 78
Claim 1
Independent Claim
147 words
A biofeedback apparatus useful for creating music, comprising: means for receiving an ongoing EEG signal from at least one region of the brain of a biological entity, said at least one region of the brain responding to acoustical stimulation, said ongoing EEG signal having a voltage amplitude exhibiting semiperiodic change; means for translating said ongoing EEG signal into music, said translating means including means for generating an acoustical indication of the semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal, and means for generating musical flavor and adding said musical flavor to said acoustical indication; means for directing said music so as to be received by the brain; and means for delaying said directing means for a period of time determined so that the brain response to said music occurs with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
147 words
A biofeedback apparatus useful for creating music, comprising: means for receiving an ongoing EEG signal from at least one region of the brain of a biological entity, said at least one region of the brain responding to acoustical stimulation, said ongoing EEG signal having a voltage amplitude exhibiting semiperiodic change; means for translating said ongoing EEG signal into music, said translating means including means for generating an acoustical indication of the semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal, and means for generating musical flavor and adding said musical flavor to said acoustical indication; means for directing said music so as to be received by the brain; and means for delaying said directing means for a period of time determined so that the brain response to said music occurs with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 1, further comprising means for anticipating an occurrence of said semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
33 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said anticipating means comprises means for determining a preferred frequency at which said brain produces said semiperiodic change over a predetermined period of time.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
25 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said anticipating means comprises means for determining a period for a most recent preceding semiperiodic change.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
31 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 2, further comprising means for modifying said delaying means to correspond to said anticipated occurrence of said semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
76 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein said means for generating said acoustical indication comprises means for generating sound selected from the group consisting of: a tone chord that is frequency modulated with said ongoing EEG signal; a punctate sound having a short attack time that is produced in response to a predetermined recurrent feature of said ongoing EEG signal; and timbre modulation produced by modulating an overtone sweep with said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
43 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the generated sound is a punctate sound and said means for generating said punctate sound comprises means for generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a bell; a drum; and a harp.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
42 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 6, wherein the generated sound is a punctate sound and said means for generating said punctate sound comprises means for generating a bell sound in response to a local maxima in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
36 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 2, wherein: said means for generating said acoustical indication comprises means for generating a tone chord; and means for frequency modulating said tone chord with said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
30 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for generating musical flavor further comprises means for modulating an overtone sweep with a low frequency, pseudorandom control signal.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
54 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for generating musical flavor comprises: means for generating a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with a low frequency, pseudorandom control signal; and means for generating a timbre modulated chord that is modulated with the voltage amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
84 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for generating musical flavor comprises means for generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with a low frequency, pseudorandom control signal; a punctate sound having a short attack time that is produced in response to a predetermined recurrent feature of said ongoing EEG signal; a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with said ongoing EEG signal; and a sequence of musical notes.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
44 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the generated sound is a punctate sound and said means for generating said punctate sound further comprises means for generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a bell; a drum; and a harp.
Claim 15
Dependent Claim
42 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the generated sound is a punctate sound and said means for generating said punctate sound comprises means for generating a bell sound in response to a local maxima in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 16
Dependent Claim
59 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 12, wherein the generated sound is a sequence of musical notes; and said means for generating said sequence of notes comprises means for generating said notes at a predetermined rate; and means for slowing said rate in proportion to the frequency of occurrence of high amplitude waves of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 17
Dependent Claim
31 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for triggering said slowing means only when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 18
Dependent Claim
42 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 16, further comprising means for generating said sequence of notes over again when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold level that is greater than said first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 19
Dependent Claim
42 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 15, further comprising means for generating said sequence of notes over again when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold level that is greater than said first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 20
Dependent Claim
30 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 9, wherein said means for generating an acoustical indication of the semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal produces a first musical voice.
Claim 21
Dependent Claim
69 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 19, wherein said musical flavor comprises: means for generating a second musical voice indicative of a predetermined feature of said ongoing EEG signal; means for generating a third musical voice indicative of the occurrence of a semiperiodic predetermined feature of the ongoing EEG signal; and means for generating a fourth musical voice indicative of an average value of the ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 22
Dependent Claim
130 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 20, wherein: said means for generating said first musical voice comprises means for generating a tone chord and means for frequency modulating said tone chord with said ongoing EEG signal; said means for generating said second musical voice comprises means for generating a bell sound in response to a local maxima of said ongoing EEG signal; said means for generating said third musical voice comprises means for generating an overtone sweep of a chord tone, said overtone sweep being modulated by the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal at a local maxima; and said means for generating said fourth musical voice comprises means for generating a series of notes in sequence at a rate determined by the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 23
Dependent Claim
71 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 21, wherein: said means for generating said second voice comprises means for not generating said second voice unless the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold level; and said means for generating said fourth voice comprises means for not generating said sequence rate at a slower rate unless the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds said first threshold level.
Claim 24
Dependent Claim
73 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 22, wherein: said means for generating said third voice comprises means for not generating said third voice unless the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds said first threshold level; and said means for generating said sequence of notes comprises means for generating said sequence again whenever said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold level that is greater than said first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 25
Dependent Claim
26 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for generating said sequence of notes comprises means for generating a progressively more dissonant pattern.
Claim 26
Dependent Claim
40 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for generating said second voice comprises means for modulating the pitch of said bell sound around a center frequency in proportion to said amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 27
Dependent Claim
39 words
A biofeedback apparatus as claimed in claim 23, wherein said means for generating said fourth voice comprises an envelope generator means for amplitude modulating said fourth voice, said envelope generator means being triggered independently of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 28
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal useful for creating music, comprising the steps of: receiving an ongoing EEG signal from at least one region of the brain of a biological entity, said at least one region of the brain responding to acoustical stimulation, said ongoing EEG signal having a voltage amplitude exhibiting semiperiodic change; translating said ongoing EEG signal into music, including the steps of generating an acoustical indication of the semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal, generating a musical flavor, and adding said musical flavor to said acoustical indication; directing said music so as to be received by the brain; and delaying said directing for a period of time determined so that the brain responds to said music with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain.
Claim 29
Independent Claim
140 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal useful for creating music, comprising the steps of: receiving an ongoing EEG signal from at least one region of the brain of a biological entity, said at least one region of the brain responding to acoustical stimulation, said ongoing EEG signal having a voltage amplitude exhibiting semiperiodic change; translating said ongoing EEG signal into music, including the steps of generating an acoustical indication of the semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal, generating a musical flavor, and adding said musical flavor to said acoustical indication; directing said music so as to be received by the brain; and delaying said directing for a period of time determined so that the brain responds to said music with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain.
Claim 30
Dependent Claim
29 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 27, further comprising the step of anticipating an occurrence of said semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 31
Dependent Claim
39 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 28, wherein said step of anticipating comprises the step of determining a preferred frequency at which said brain produces said semiperiodic change over a predetermined period of time.
Claim 32
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 28, wherein said step of anticipating comprises the step of determining a period for a most recent preceding semiperiodic change.
Claim 33
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 28, further comprising the step of modifying said delaying time period to correspond to anticipated occurrence of said semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 34
Dependent Claim
82 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 28, wherein said step of generating said acoustical indication comprises the step of generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a tone chord that is frequency modulated with said ongoing EEG signal; a punctate sound having a short attack time that is produced in response to a predetermined recurrent feature of said ongoing EEG signal; and timbre modulation produced by modulating an overtone sweep with said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 35
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 32, wherein the generated sound is punctate and said step of generating said punctate sound comprises generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a bell; a drum and a harp.
Claim 36
Dependent Claim
34 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 33 wherein said step of adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication comprises the step of modifying said musical flavor with said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 37
Dependent Claim
62 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 34, wherein: said step of generating said acoustical indication comprises generating a tone chord and the step of frequency modulating said tone chord with said ongoing EEG signal; and said step of adding musical flavor comprises the step of timbre modulating said tone chord with the voltage amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 38
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 35, wherein said step of adding musical flavor further comprises the step of modulating said timbre of said tone chord with an independently produced signal that is independent of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 39
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 36, wherein said independently produced signal comprises a low frequency, pseudorandom signal.
Claim 40
Dependent Claim
32 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 34, wherein said step of generating said acoustical indication of the semiperiodic change in said ongoing EEG signal produces a first musical voice.
Claim 41
Dependent Claim
67 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 38, wherein said step of generating musical flavor comprises the steps of: generating a second musical voice indicative of a predetermined feature of said ongoing EEG signal; generating a third musical voice indicative of the recent amplitude of the ongoing EEG signal; and generating a fourth musical voice indicative of an average value of the ongoing EEG signal,
Claim 42
Dependent Claim
141 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 39 wherein: said step of generating said first musical voice comprises the step of generating a tone chord that is frequency modulated with said ongoing EEG signal; said step of generating a second musical voice comprises the step of generating a bell sound in response to a local maxima of said ongoing EEG signal; said step of generating said third musical voice comprises the step of generating an overtone sweep of a chord tone, said overtone sweep being modulated by the relative frequency of occurrence of an at least semiperiodic predetermined feature of said ongoing EEG signal; and said step of generating said fourth musical voice comprises the step of generating a series of notes that are played in sequence at a rate determined by the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 43
Dependent Claim
74 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 40, wherein: said step of generating said second voice is performed only in response to the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeding a first predetermined threshold level; and said step of generating said fourth voice comprises the step of slowing said sequence rate in proportion to the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal only when said ongoing EEG signal exceeds said first threshold level.
Claim 44
Dependent Claim
75 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 41, wherein: said step of generating said third voice comprises the step of modifying said third voice only when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds said first predetermined threshold level; and said step of generating said fourth voice comprises the step of generating said sequence again whenever said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a second threshold level that is greater than said first threshold level.
Claim 45
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 42, wherein said sequence of notes comprises a progressively more dissonant pattern.
Claim 46
Dependent Claim
43 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 42, wherein said step of generating said second voice comprises the step of modulating the pitch of said bell sound around a center frequency in proportion to said amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 47
Dependent Claim
37 words
A method of producing biofeedback as claimed in claim 42, wherein said step of generating said fourth voice comprises the step of modifying the biofeedback signal with a signal that is independent of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 48
Dependent Claim
37 words
Music as derived by the process claimed in claim 39, wherein said steps of generating said acoustical indication and said musical flavor comprise generating a polyphonic hierarchy of musical voices that are mutually physiologically and psychoacoustically correct.
Claim 49
Dependent Claim
87 words
Music as derived by the process claimed in claim 46, wherein said first, second, third and fourth musical voices comprise sounds selected from the group consisting of: a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with the ongoing EEG signal; a punctate sound having a short attack time that is short relative to and produced in response to a predetermined recurrent feature of said ongoing EEG signal; a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with said ongoing EEG signal; and a sequence of dissonant musical notes.
Claim 50
Dependent Claim
45 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 32, wherein the generated sound is punctate and said step of generating said punctate sound comprises the step of generating a bell sound in response to a local maxima in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 51
Dependent Claim
42 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 28, wherein: said step of generating said acoustical indication comprises the step of generating a tone chord and the step of frequency modulating said tone chord with said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 52
Dependent Claim
35 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 49, wherein said step of generating musical flavor further comprises the step of modulating an overtone sweep with a low frequency, pseudorandom control signal.
Claim 53
Dependent Claim
57 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 49, wherein said step of generating musical flavor comprises the steps of: generating a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with a low frequency, pseudorandom control signal; and generating a timbre modulated chord that is modulated with the voltage amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 54
Dependent Claim
89 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 49, wherein said step of generating musical flavor comprises the step of generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with a low frequency, pseudorandom control signal; a punctate sound having a short attack time that is produced in response to a predetermined recurrent feature of said ongoing EEG signal; a timbre modulated tone chord that is modulated with said ongoing EEG signal; and a sequence of musical notes.
Claim 55
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 52, wherein the generated sound is punctate and said step of generating said punctate sound further comprises the step of generating a sound selected from the group consisting of: a bell; a drum and a harp.
Claim 56
Dependent Claim
48 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 52, wherein the generated sound is a punctate sound and said step of generating said punctate sound further comprises the step of generating a bell sound in response to a local maxima in said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 57
Dependent Claim
64 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 52, wherein the sound is a sequence of musical notes, and said step of generating said sequence of notes comprises the step of generating said notes at a predetermined rate; and the step of slowing said rate in proportion to the frequency of occurrence of high amplitude waves of said ongoing EEG signal.
Claim 58
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 55, further comprising the step of triggering said slowing step only when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 59
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 56, further comprising the step of generating said sequence of notes over again when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold level that is greater than said first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 60
Dependent Claim
47 words
A method of producing a biofeedback signal as claimed in claim 55, further comprising the step of generating said sequence of notes over again when the amplitude of said ongoing EEG signal exceeds a second predetermined threshold level that is greater than said first predetermined threshold level.
Claim 61
Dependent Claim
124 words
Music derived from brain waves by a process comprising the steps of: receiving an ongoing EEG signal from at least one region of the brain of a biological entity, said at least one region of the brain responding to acoustical stimulation, said ongoing EEG signal exhibiting semiperiodic, moment-by-moment change; generating an acoustical indication of the moment-by-moment change of said ongoing EEG signal; adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication; directing said acoustical indication so as to be received by the brain; and delaying said step of directing said acoustical indication for a period of time determined so that the brain responds to said acoustical indication with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain.
Claim 62
Dependent Claim
124 words
Music derived from brain waves by a process comprising the steps of: receiving an ongoing EEG signal from at least one region of the brain of a biological entity, said at least one region of the brain responding to acoustical stimulation, said ongoing EEG signal exhibiting semiperiodic, moment-by-moment change; generating an acoustical indication of the moment-by-moment change of said ongoing EEG signal; adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication; directing said acoustical indication so as to be received by the brain; and delaying said step of directing said acoustical indication for a period of time determined so that the brain responds to said acoustical indication with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain.
Claim 63
Dependent Claim
213 words
A brain wave driven cybernetic interface circuit adapted for cooperation with a nervous system, a brain, and an acoustical sensory organ, comprising: means for selecting a predetermined form of electrical activity from the nervous system, said brain producing produce said electrical activity, said acoustical sensory organ adapted to respond to acoustical impulses, including means for receiving an ongoing EEG signal from a region of the brain, and means for filtering said ongoing EEG signal to select a particular type of neuroelectrical activity in the brain, said neuroelectrical activity exhibiting semiperiodic change; means for reinforcing said neuroelectrical activity in the brain, including means for generating an acoustical indication of said semiperiodic change, means for adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication to form a musical feedback signal, means for converting said musical feedback signal into acoustical impulses comprising feedback music, means for directing said feedback music to be received by said acoustical sensory organ, and means for delaying said directing means for a period of time determined so that the brain response to said feedback music occurs with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain; and means for generating a control signal in response to a predetermined musical pattern in said feedback music.
Claim 64
Dependent Claim
213 words
A brain wave driven cybernetic interface circuit adapted for cooperation with a nervous system, a brain, and an acoustical sensory organ, comprising: means for selecting a predetermined form of electrical activity from the nervous system, said brain producing produce said electrical activity, said acoustical sensory organ adapted to respond to acoustical impulses, including means for receiving an ongoing EEG signal from a region of the brain, and means for filtering said ongoing EEG signal to select a particular type of neuroelectrical activity in the brain, said neuroelectrical activity exhibiting semiperiodic change; means for reinforcing said neuroelectrical activity in the brain, including means for generating an acoustical indication of said semiperiodic change, means for adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication to form a musical feedback signal, means for converting said musical feedback signal into acoustical impulses comprising feedback music, means for directing said feedback music to be received by said acoustical sensory organ, and means for delaying said directing means for a period of time determined so that the brain response to said feedback music occurs with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain; and means for generating a control signal in response to a predetermined musical pattern in said feedback music.
Claim 65
Dependent Claim
28 words
A brain wave driven cybernetic interface circuit as claimed in claim 60, further comprising a musical instrument to receive said control signal and generate music in response thereto.
Claim 66
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of forming a cybernetic interface, comprising the steps of: selecting a predetermined form of electrical activity from a nervous system, said nervous system having a brain to produce said electrical activity and an acoustical sensory organ to respond to acoustical impulses, including the steps of receiving an ongoing EEG signal from a region of the brain, and filtering said ongoing EEG signal to select a particular type of neuroelectrical activity in the brain, said neuroelectrical activity exhibiting semiperiodic change; reinforcing said neuroelectrical activity in the brain including the steps of generating an acoustical indication of said semiperiodic change, adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication to form a musical feedback signal, converting said musical feedback signal into acoustical impulses comprising feedback music, directing said feedback music to be received by said acoustical sensory organ, and delaying said step of directing for a period of time determined so that the brain responds to said feedback music with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain; and generating a control signal in response to a predetermined musical pattern in said feedback music.
Claim 67
Independent Claim
192 words
A method of forming a cybernetic interface, comprising the steps of: selecting a predetermined form of electrical activity from a nervous system, said nervous system having a brain to produce said electrical activity and an acoustical sensory organ to respond to acoustical impulses, including the steps of receiving an ongoing EEG signal from a region of the brain, and filtering said ongoing EEG signal to select a particular type of neuroelectrical activity in the brain, said neuroelectrical activity exhibiting semiperiodic change; reinforcing said neuroelectrical activity in the brain including the steps of generating an acoustical indication of said semiperiodic change, adding musical flavor to said acoustical indication to form a musical feedback signal, converting said musical feedback signal into acoustical impulses comprising feedback music, directing said feedback music to be received by said acoustical sensory organ, and delaying said step of directing for a period of time determined so that the brain responds to said feedback music with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal received from said region of the brain; and generating a control signal in response to a predetermined musical pattern in said feedback music.
Claim 68
Dependent Claim
31 words
A method of forming a cybernetic interface as claimed in claim 62, further comprising the step of directing said control signal to a musical instrument that generates music in response thereto.
Claim 69
Dependent Claim
21 words
A method of forming a cybernetic interface as claimed in claim 62, wherein said nervous system is a human nervous system.
Claim 70
Dependent Claim
94 words
A neural stimulation apparatus, comprising: means for noninvasively extracting an ongoing EEG signal from a predetermined region of a brain; means for converting said EEG signal into music, said music having physiological information and musical flavor; means for directing said music to an auditory sensory organ of said brain; and means for delaying said directing means for a period of time determined so that said response of said region of the brain said music occurs with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal extracted from said region of the brain.
Claim 71
Dependent Claim
94 words
A neural stimulation apparatus, comprising: means for noninvasively extracting an ongoing EEG signal from a predetermined region of a brain; means for converting said EEG signal into music, said music having physiological information and musical flavor; means for directing said music to an auditory sensory organ of said brain; and means for delaying said directing means for a period of time determined so that said response of said region of the brain said music occurs with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal extracted from said region of the brain.
Claim 72
Dependent Claim
17 words
A neural stimulation apparatus as claimed in claim 65, wherein said noninvasive extraction means comprises a magnetometer.
Claim 73
Dependent Claim
22 words
A neural stimulation apparatus as claimed in claim 66, wherein said magnetometer comprises means for triangulating EEG activity occurring within said brain.
Claim 74
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of stimulating neural activity, comprising the steps of: noninvasively extracting an ongoing EEG signal from a predetermined region of a brain; converting said EEG signal into music, said music having physiological information and musical flavor; directing said music to an auditory sensory organ of said brain; and delaying said directing step for a period of time determined so that said region of the brain responds to said music with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal extracted from said region of the brain.
Claim 75
Independent Claim
89 words
A method of stimulating neural activity, comprising the steps of: noninvasively extracting an ongoing EEG signal from a predetermined region of a brain; converting said EEG signal into music, said music having physiological information and musical flavor; directing said music to an auditory sensory organ of said brain; and delaying said directing step for a period of time determined so that said region of the brain responds to said music with a predetermined phase relationship with respect to the ongoing EEG signal extracted from said region of the brain.
Claim 76
Dependent Claim
36 words
A method of stimulating neural activity as claimed in claim 68, wherein said step of extracting said ongoing EEG signal comprises the step of detecting semiperiodic changes in magnetic field indicative of said ongoing EEG activity.
Claim 77
Dependent Claim
46 words
A method of stimulating neural activity as claimed in claim 69, wherein said step of detecting semiperiodic changes in magnetic field comprises the step of triangulating said ongoing EEG activity so as to extract only ongoing EEG activity from a well defined region of said brain.
Claim 78
Dependent Claim
18 words
A method of stimulating neural activity as claimed in claim 70, wherein said brain is a human brain.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1992-11-27 | 1993-05-29 | 1993-11-28 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1996-11-27 | 1997-05-29 | 1997-11-28 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 2000-11-27 | 2001-05-29 | 2001-11-28 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |