Methods for Independent Entrainment of Visual Field Zones

Abstract

An entrainment method for stimulation, of a visual field in a subject includes presenting a visual stimulation field to a subject the visual stimulation field disposed at a distance of at least about 6 inches from the subject; and flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation, field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An entrainment method for stimulation of a visual field in a subject comprising:
 presenting a visual stimulation field to a subject, the visual stimulation field disposed at a distance of at least about 6 inches from the subject;   instructing the subject to fixate visual attention on a point on the visual stimulation field; and   flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency.   
     
     
         2 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  wherein instructing the subject to fixate visual attention on a point on the visual stimulation field comprises instructing the subject to fixate on at least one dot on the visual stimulation field. 
     
     
         3 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  wherein presenting a visual stimulation field comprises presenting a visual stimulation field on a display screen selected froth the group consisting of a computer monitor, LED screen, cathode ray tube, computer tablet display and an optical apparatus adapted to present a focused image on a retina of the subject. 
     
     
         4 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency comprises flashing a plurality of stimulation field zones for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency. 
     
     
         5 . The entrapment method of  claim 4  wherein flashing a plurality of stimulation field zones comprises flashing a plurality of stimulation field zones selected from the group consisting of a central field zone and a peripheral field zone, an upper hemi-field zone and a lower hemi-field zone, a left hemi-field zone and a right hemi-field zone, a plurality of quadrant zones and a plurality of quadrant subdivision zones. 
     
     
         6 . The entrapment method of  claim 1  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field comprises flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field having a visual content selected from the group consisting of black, white, solid color, repeated pattern and picture with line detail. 
     
     
         7 . The entrainment method of  claim 4  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency comprises flashing a plurality of stimulation field zones with independently selectable flash frequencies for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency. 
     
     
         8 . The entrapment method of  claim 1  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field at a selected flash frequency comprises flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field at a flash frequency of at most about 12 Hz (alpha rhythm and lower) to produce inhibition in associated parts of fire cerebral cortex of the subject. 
     
     
         9 . The entrapment method of  claim 1  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field at a selected flash frequency comprises flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field at a flash frequency of greater than about 12 Hz to produce excitation in associated parts of the cerebral cortex of the subject. 
     
     
         10 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field at a selected flash frequency comprises flashing excitatory (greater than about 12 Hz) and inhibitory (less than about 12 Hz) frequencies to different ones of a plurality of zones of the visual stimulation field. 
     
     
         11 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  further comprising applying at least one non-visual stimulus selected from the group consisting of auditory stimulus (isochronic tones, binaural beats, music) tactile stimuli, kinesthetic stimuli, somatic electrical stimuli, transcranial electrical stimuli and transcranial magnetic stimuli to the subject. 
     
     
         12 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  further comprising measuring a physiologic variable of the subject and using the physiologic variable to modify visual stimulation field via neurofeedback. 
     
     
         13 . The entrainment method of  claim 12  wherein measuring a physiologic variable of a subject comprises measuring a physiologic variable selected from the group consisting of EEG, pulse rate, breathing rate and galvanic skin response of the subject. 
     
     
         14 . The entrainment method of  claim 12  wherein using the physiologic variable to modify visual stimulation, field via neurofeedback comprises using the physiologic variable to modify at least one parameter including but not limited to changes in frequency, color and intensity of at least one of the at least one zone of the visual stimulation field. 
     
     
         15 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  further comprising moving the point on the visual stimulation field while maintaining the at least one zone of the visual stimulation field in a static relative position, whereby the visual stimulation field produces constant stimulation to zones of the retina of the subject. 
     
     
         16 . The entrainment method of  claim 1  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency comprises flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency to treat a brain malfunction in the subject. 
     
     
         17 . The entrainment method of  claim 16  wherein flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration, and at a selected flash frequency to treat a brain malfunction in the subject comprises flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency to treat a brain malfunction selected from the group consisting of treating post traumatic stress disorder, attention deficit disorder and accumulation of beta amyloid in the subject. 
     
     
         18 . An entrainment method for stimulation of a visual field in a subject, comprising;:
 presenting a visual stimulation field to a subject, the visual stimulation field disposed at a distance of at least about 6 inches from the subject; and   flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency.   
     
     
         19 . The entrainment method of  claim 18  further comprising presenting a non-entraining visual image to the visual stimulation field simultaneously with the flashing at least one zone of the visual stimulation field for a selected duration and at a selected flash frequency. 
     
     
         20 . The entrainment method of  claim 19  wherein presenting a non-entraining visual image to the visual stimulation field comprises presenting an image selected from the group consisting of text geometric patterns, photographs, paintings and video motion pictures.