Autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) method and system

Claim 2

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning system for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the physiological responses, the system comprising in combination: a trainer sub-system for use by a trainer and including a processor; a trainee sub-system for use by the trainee, including an AFTE apparatus connected to said trainer sub-system; said AFTE apparatus including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses, and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the training; said AFTE apparatus further comprising an ambulatory, physiological-monitoring apparatus; and based on said stress profile, said trainer sub-system selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses corresponding to said plurality of fed back physiological parameters, so as to normalize the physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values.

Claim 3

The system according to claim 1, wherein said trainer sub-system selects a physiological parameter and delineates its tonic and phasic properties.

Claim 4

The system according to claim 1, wherein said AFTE apparatus further includes a display unit capable of selectively displaying analog and digital numerical displays of the trainee's physiological parameters.

Claim 5

The system according to claim 3, wherein said trainer sub-system further includes a monitor for selectively displaying at least some of said trainee's physiological parameters.

Claim 6

The system according to claim 1, wherein audio and data communication between the trainer sub-system and the trainee sub-system is maintained via a data bus.

Claim 7

The system according to claim 5, wherein said data bus includes a remote communication link.

Claim 8

The system according to claim 6, wherein said AFTE apparatus further includes a belt assembly comprised of system electronic circuitry; and wherein said belt assembly includes a modular package that houses the system electronic circuitry, and which is comprised of one or more interconnectable modules.

Claim 9

The system according to claim 7, wherein some of the physiological parameters to be displayed by said display unit, either simultaneously or separately are: blood volume pulse (BVP), skin temperature, heart rate, skin conductance level, and respiration rate.

Claim 10

The system according to claim 7, wherein said modules include: a first module that contains electronic circuits for providing signal conditioning for electrocardiogram, skin conductance level, temperature, blood volume pulse, and respiration signals; a second module which contains circuitry for a digital sub-system that: processes physiological signals in real-time; times AFTE sessions; generates time and event codes; multiplexes time and event codes with temperature data; transmits a periodic time marker to a trainee sub-system processor; interfaces with diagnostic equipment and said trainer sub-system processor; configures system operating modes; and amplifies signals from said sensor assembly; a third module that collects system inputs from said sensor assembly, and that relays said inputs to said first and second modules; and a fourth module that includes a power source that supplies power to said AFTE apparatus.

Claim 11

The system according to claim 6, wherein said sensor assembly includes at least one ECG electrode for monitoring the trainee's cardiac electrical impulses.

Claim 12

The system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes at least one skin conductance level (SCL) electrode for monitoring changes in the electrical conductivity properties of the trainee's skin.

Claim 13

The system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes a respiration transducer for detecting changes in the trainee's thoracic cavity size caused by the expansion and contraction of the diaphragm, and for monitoring the frequency of respiration.

Claim 14

The system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes a triaxial accelerometer for measuring gross head movements in three directions.

Claim 15

The system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes a transducer for measuring skin temperature and a sensor for detecting blood volume pulse.

Claim 16

The system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes blood pressure measuring apparatus for measuring the trainee's systolic and diastolic blood pressures.

Claim 17

The system according to claim 10, wherein said sensor assembly further includes at least one of the following sensors: impedance cardiograph for providing a reliable index of (a) stroke volume, (b) contractility, (c) cardiac output, and (d) systolic timing intervals; impedance plethysmograph for monitoring the trainee's lower limb volume; electromyograph (EMG) for monitoring the muscle activity of the trainee's legs; electromyograph for monitoring the muscle activity of the trainee's arms; electroencephalography (EEG) for monitoring the trainee's brain electrical potentials; electro-oculography (EOG) for monitoring the trainee's eye movements; electrogastrography (EGG) for monitoring the trainee's gastrointestinal smooth muscle surface potentials.

Claim 18

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee, to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing a baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest includes having the trainer select at least one of the following six autogenic exercises: 1. Heaviness in the arms and legs; 2. Warmth in the periphery; 3. Regulated respiration; 4. Regulated heart beat; 5. Warmth in the solar plexus; 6. Coolness in the forehead.

Claim 19

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee, to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing a baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest includes having the trainer select at least one of the following six autogenic exercises: 1. Heaviness in the arms and legs; 2. Warmth in the periphery; 3. Regulated respiration; 4. Regulated heart beat; 5. Warmth in the solar plexus; 6. Coolness in the forehead.

Claim 20

The method according to claim 17, wherein said step of determining the developing symptoms includes the steps of: having the trainee report his/her symptoms at predetermined intervals; and grading said symptoms.

Claim 21

The method according to claim 18, wherein said step of gradually increasing and decreasing the stimulus levels causes a corresponding increase or decrease of the trainee's physiological response levels, which enables the trainer to make at least some of the following determinations: the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress; the relationship of these parameters; the order of change of the physiological parameters; the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters; the developing symptoms; and to correlate these symptoms to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; and wherein said step of correlating the symptoms and the physiological parameters includes the step of grading the trainee's symptoms based on self-report and the trainer's observation of several subjective symptoms such as body temperature, dizziness, headache, drowsiness, sweating, pallor, salivation, and nausea.

Claim 22

The method according to claim 19, wherein said step of providing a training session includes the steps of: training the trainee to normalize his/her physiological responses by simultaneously modifying and controlling the hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationship these several physiological responses, aiming at keeping the levels of these physiological responses at, or close to that trainee's individual baseline profile, under stress, in order to alleviate or prevent the developing symptoms; and training the trainee to maintain normal regulation of the autonomic nervous system by maintaining balance between the two branches of the autonomic nervous system: the sympathetic and the parasympathetic branches.

Claim 23

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress, and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee subsystem, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters: obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profits and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of training the trainee to normalize his/her physiological includes the steps of: identifying one or more leading physiological responses under stress, and one or more trailing physiological responses under stress; and placing emphasis on training the trainee how to normalize said one or more leading physiological response simultaneously with said one or more trailing physiological responses.

Claim 24

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress, and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee subsystem, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters: obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profits and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of training the trainee to normalize his/her physiological includes the steps of: identifying one or more leading physiological responses under stress, and one or more trailing physiological responses under stress; and placing emphasis on training the trainee how to normalize said one or more leading physiological response simultaneously with said one or more trailing physiological responses.

Claim 25

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing a baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of providing a training session further includes the step of preparing and comparing a plurality of stress profiles for the trainer to identify which of the physiological parameters will be emphasized during subsequent training sessions.

Claim 26

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing a baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of providing a training session further includes the step of preparing and comparing a plurality of stress profiles for the trainer to identify which of the physiological parameters will be emphasized during subsequent training sessions.

Claim 27

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a senior assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and, during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; and, based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; and wherein said step of using said trainee sub-system includes the steps of: starting to collect data on a selected one of said physiological parameters; starting a timer when said cardiac R pulse is sensed; inquiring about the occurrence of a subsequent R pulse; when said subsequent R pulse is sensed, almost simultaneously stopping said timer, recording the length of an RR interval, and resetting said timer; and processing said data that has been collected on a selected one of said physiological parameters.

Claim 28

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a senior assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and, during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; and, based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; and wherein said step of using said trainee sub-system includes the steps of: starting to collect data on a selected one of said physiological parameters; starting a timer when said cardiac R pulse is sensed; inquiring about the occurrence of a subsequent R pulse; when said subsequent R pulse is sensed, almost simultaneously stopping said timer, recording the length of an RR interval, and resetting said timer; and processing said data that has been collected on a selected one of said physiological parameters.

Claim 29

The method according to claim 23, further including the step of displaying data representative of selected ones of said physiological parameters or the average values of said physiological parameters.

Claim 30

The method according to claim 24, wherein said steps of sensing baseline values of said plurality of physiological parameters, and changes in said physiological parameters includes the step of: determining the pulse rate of the trainee, according to the following equation: ##EQU12##

Claim 31

The method according to claim 25, wherein said steps of sensing further include the steps of: measuring a thoracic impedance ΔZ; measuring or determining the average or mean thoracic impedance, i.e., basal impedance Zo; and measuring the peak or maximum value of the first derivative of the thoracic impedance ΔZ with respect to time: ##EQU13##

Claim 32

The method according to claim 26, wherein said steps of sensing further include the step of determining the stroke volume by correlating the stroke volume and changes in the thoracic impedance, according to the following relationship: ##EQU14##

Claim 33

The method according to claim 27, wherein said steps of sensing further include the steps of: determining the cardiac output, either by directly correlating the stroke volume to the peak value of the first derivative of the thoracic impedance ΔZ with respect to time, or by calculating the stroke volume based on the following equation: ##EQU15## where ρ is the specific resistance of blood, L 2 is the square of the distance L between two voltage electrodes; TVE refers to the ventricular ejection time, and the basal impedance Zo is a generally measurable constant impedance; determining the cardiac output according to the following equation: CARDIAC OUTPUT=STROKE VOLUME×PULSE RATE; determining the thoracic fluid index (TFI) pursuant to the following equation: ##EQU16##

Claim 34

The method according to claim 28, wherein said steps of sensing further include the steps of: measuring the diastolic and the systolic pressures; calculating a mean arterial pressure MAP according to the following equation: ##EQU17## and determining a total peripheral pressure TPR, according to the following equation: ##EQU18##

Claim 35

The method according to claim 27, wherein said steps of sensing further include the steps of: measuring the trainee's respiration rate, temperature, skin conductance level, electrogastrogram signals, electromyogram (EMG) signals at one or more limbs, pulse volume at one or more parts of the trainee's body, and the venous compliance according to the following equation: VENOUS COMPLIANCE=δV/δP where δV is the pulse volume, δP is the change in blood pressure.

Claim 36

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, to in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing a baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile includes the step of selectively displaying at least one of the following parameters: LFPV: Left Finger Pulse Volume; RFPV: Right Finger Pulse Volume; RESP. RT.: Respiration Rate; HEART RT.: Heart Rate; TEMP,/B: Temperature; LASER PV: Laser Pulse Volume; DPLR PV: Doppler Pulse Volume; SCL/B: Skin Conductance Level; LA EMG: Left Arm EMG; RA EMG: Right Arm EMG; LL EMG: Left Leg EMG; RLL EMG: Left Leg EMG; SYS. BP: Systolic Blood Pressure; DIA. BP: Diastolic Blood Pressure; TPR: Total Peripheral Pressure; TFI Thoracic Fluid Index; STR. VoL.: Stroke Volume; and CAR. OUT.: Cardiac output.

Claim 37

An autogenic-feedback training exercise (AFTE) multi-parameter physiological conditioning method for training a trainee to gain better control of a plurality of the trainee's physiological responses by using two combined self-regulatory techniques, biofeedback and autogenic therapy, and to permit the trainee to voluntarily and simultaneously control the plurality of physiological responses, the method comprising: using a trainee sub-system formed of an AFTE apparatus connected to a trainer sub-system and including a sensor assembly for sensing baseline values of a plurality of physiological parameters indicative of the trainee's physiological responses and for further sensing changes in said physiological parameters when the trainee is under stress and during training, in order for said trainer sub-system to develop an individual stress profile for the trainee; based on said stress profile selectively feeding back one or more of said plurality of trainee's physiological parameters to said trainee sub-system, to in order to enable the trainee to simultaneously modify and control hierarchy, magnitude and phase relationships of the physiological responses, so as to normalize the plurality of physiological responses by minimizing variances of the physiological responses from their corresponding baseline values; said step of using said trainer sub-system providing a sequence of baseline, training and post-training sessions; said step of providing a baseline session includes selecting at least one of the following steps, and using the selected steps in a predetermined order: reducing extrinsic stimuli; determining the trainee's optimal range of physiological parameters at rest to obtain that trainee's individual baseline profile; gradually increasing and decreasing stimulus levels to determine the trainee's range of physiological parameters under stress, and the relationship of these parameters; determining the order of change of the physiological parameters change under stress; determining the magnitude of response and the tonic and phasic relationship of the physiological parameters under stress; determining the developing symptoms and correlating them to accompanying changes in the physiological parameters; obtaining the trainee's individual profile or specific response pattern under stress; training the trainee to use passive concentration; training the trainee to feel and pay attention to various bodily sensations; training the trainee to focus using passive attention; providing a baseline test, starting with a specific autogenic exercise; training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile and to modify his/her behavior; and wherein said step of training the trainee to normalize his/her individual profile includes the step of selectively displaying at least one of the following parameters: LFPV: Left Finger Pulse Volume; RFPV: Right Finger Pulse Volume; RESP. RT.: Respiration Rate; HEART RT.: Heart Rate; TEMP,/B: Temperature; LASER PV: Laser Pulse Volume; DPLR PV: Doppler Pulse Volume; SCL/B: Skin Conductance Level; LA EMG: Left Arm EMG; RA EMG: Right Arm EMG; LL EMG: Left Leg EMG; RLL EMG: Left Leg EMG; SYS. BP: Systolic Blood Pressure; DIA. BP: Diastolic Blood Pressure; TPR: Total Peripheral Pressure; TFI Thoracic Fluid Index; STR. VoL.: Stroke Volume; and CAR. OUT.: Cardiac output.