Method and Apparatus for Encouraging Physiological Change Through Physiological Control of Wearable Auditory and Visual Interruption Device

Abstract

A biofeedback system and method enables biofeedback training to be accomplished during normal interaction by an individual with the individual's environment, for example while reading, playing video games, watching TV, participating in sports activities, or at work. Physiologic data is processed and used to generate one or more control signals based on the physiologic data. The control signals may be proportional to a result of the data processing, or based on comparison of the processing results with at least one fixed or adaptive threshold. The control signal is supplied to a wearable device through which the individual receives sensory information from the individual's environment, and serves to interrupt or modify the sensory information. The wearable device may be an eyeglass device including a dynamic lens display, with the control signal being supplied to the dynamic lens display to modulate visual information received through the eyeglass device by obscuring, distorting, or otherwise affecting the clarity of the visual information. Feedback may also be provided in the form of auditory or tactile feedback.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biofeedback system that enables biofeedback training to be accomplished during interaction by an individual with the individual's environment, comprising:
 a physiologic data acquisition device for acquiring physiologic data concerning the individual;   a processor connected to the physiologic data acquisition device for processing said physiologic data and generating at least one control signal in response to said processing of the physiologic data;   a wearable device through which the individual receives sensory information from the individual's environment, said wearable device being arranged to interrupt or modify the sensory information received by the individual in response to said at least one control signal.   
     
     
         2 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said sensory information includes at least one of visual, auditory, and tactile information. 
     
     
         3 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said wearable device is an eyeglass device, said eyeglass device including a dynamic lens display, and said control signal being supplied to said dynamic lens display to modulate visual information received through said eyeglass device. 
     
     
         4 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said dynamic lens display is arranged to modulate said visual information by varying a clarity or opacity of the eyeglass device. 
     
     
         5 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the dynamic lens includes a liquid crystal which blocks light passing through the lens when electrified 
     
     
         6 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 5 , wherein the lens is arranged to be electrified at varying intensities to produce different levels of opacity. 
     
     
         7 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said physiologic signals include one or more of the following physiologic signals: electroencephalographs (EEGs), electrocardiograph (ECGs), electromyography (EMG), skin temperature, skin conductance, heart rate, and/or event-related potentials (ERPs). 
     
     
         8 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said control signal causes said sensory information to be modulated in a way that constitutes a reward if the physiologic signals match a criterion set forth by a training protocol. 
     
     
         9 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 8 , wherein the training protocol includes analysis of the physiologic data to determine whether one or more physiologic signals has increased and/or decreased, and in which the reward is generated based on the increase and/or decrease in the magnitude of at least one said physiologic signals 
     
     
         10 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein said physiologic signals include an electroencephalograph (EEG) to indicate an individual's mental engagement at a task, and said control signal is generated based on a bandwidth of the EEG. 
     
     
         11 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said sensory information is modulated as a function of a ratio [(f1+f2)/(f3+f4)] of four respective EEG bandwidths, where f1, f2, f3, f4, are the respective EEG bandwidths. 
     
     
         12 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said sensory information is modulated based on comparison of said physiologic data with a fixed threshold. 
     
     
         13 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 10 , wherein said sensory information is modulated based on comparison of said physiologic data with an adaptive threshold. 
     
     
         14 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 13 , wherein said adaptive threshold is determined by fuzzy logic. 
     
     
         15 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 14 , wherein said physiologic data is EEG data, analysis of said physiologic data is carried out in the frequency domain and the transformed physiologic data is processed according to three input variables: rate of change, deviation from expected level, and previously achieved performance. 
     
     
         16 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 1 , further comprises an auditory feedback device and/or a tactile feedback device for respectively conveying auditory and tactile feedback to the individual in response to at least one said control signal. 
     
     
         17 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 16 , wherein said tactile feedback device includes a vibrating mechanism for transmitting vibrations to the individual in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         18 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 17 , wherein said auditory feedback device includes a speaker or headphone for generating a pleasant sound that serves as an aural reward or an unpleasant sound that serves as a penalty or negative aural reward. 
     
     
         19 . A biofeedback method that enables biofeedback training to be accomplished during interaction by an individual with the individuals environment, comprising the steps of:
 acquiring physiologic data concerning the individual;   using a processor to process the physiologic data and generate at least one control signal in response to said processing of the physiologic data;   interrupting or modifying sensory information received by the individual through a wearable device in response to said at least one control signal.   
     
     
         20 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said sensory information includes visual and/or auditory and/or tactile information. 
     
     
         21 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said wearable device is an eyeglass device, said eyeglass device including a dynamic lens display, and said step of interrupting or modifying said sensory information comprises the step of modulating visual information received through said eyeglass device. 
     
     
         22 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 21 , wherein the step of modulating said visual information comprises the step of varying a clarity or opacity of the eyeglass device. 
     
     
         23 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein the step of acquiring physiologic signals include the step of measuring one or more of the following physiologic signals: electroencephalographs (EEGs), electrocardiograph (ECGs), electromyography (EMG), skin temperature, skin conductance, heart rate, and/or event-related potentials (ERPs). 
     
     
         24 . A biofeedback system as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said step of modulating said sensory information comprises the step of modulating the sensory information in a way that constitutes a reward if the physiologic signals match a criterion set forth by a training protocol. 
     
     
         25 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 24 , wherein the training protocol includes analysis of the physiologic data to determine whether one or more physiologic signals has increased and/or decreased, and in which the reward is generated based on the increase and/or decrease in the magnitude of at least one said physiologic signals 
     
     
         26 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said physiologic signals include an electroencephalograph (EEG) to indicate an individual's mental engagement at a task, and said control signal is generated based on a bandwidth of the EEG. 
     
     
         27 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 26 , wherein said visual information is modulated as a function of a ratio [(f1+f2)/(f3+f4)] of four respective EEG bandwidths, where f1, f2, f3, f4, are the respective EEG bandwidths. 
     
     
         28 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 19 , wherein said visual information is modulated based on comparison of said physiologic data with a fixed threshold. 
     
     
         29 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 28 , wherein said visual information is modulated based on comparison of said physiologic data with an adaptive threshold. 
     
     
         30 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 29 , wherein said adaptive threshold is determined by fuzzy logic. 
     
     
         31 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 30 , wherein said physiologic data is EEG data, analysis of said physiologic data is carried out in the frequency domain and the transformed physiologic data is processed according to three input variables: rate of change, deviation from expected level, and previously achieved performance. 
     
     
         32 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 31 , further comprising the step of providing auditory feedback and/or tactile feedback to the individual in response to at least one said control signal. 
     
     
         33 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the step of providing auditory feedback and/or tactile feedback comprises the step of transmitting vibrations to the individual in response to the control signal. 
     
     
         34 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the step of providing auditory feedback and/or tactile feedback comprises the step of generating a pleasant sound that serves as an aural reward or an unpleasant sound that serves as a penalty or negative aural reward. 
     
     
         35 . A biofeedback method as claimed in  claim 32 , wherein the step of providing auditory feedback and/or tactile feedback comprises the step of increasing the transmission of environmental sound to the individual that serves as an aural reward or decreasing the transmission sound that serves as a penalty or negative aural reward.