Biofeedback system and method

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to optimizing an individual's heart-rate cycle using a biofeedback system so as to facilitate coherence and resonance, by which a subject's emotional state, stress levels and performance may be concurrently improved. In an embodiment, a biofeedback system and method as disclosed herein accesses an individual's current coherence state and based upon that analysis, provides an environment related to the individual's current coherence state and allows the individual to progress to alternative environments that represent “better” or more coherent states. A biofeedback system can include a heart monitor and an RR interval monitor that provide information related to the individual's HRV. A biofeedback system can be conveniently portable and therefore used at most any location so as to afford the individual the ability to decrease their stress level and/or improve their state of mind as desired.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A biofeedback system capable of providing feedback to a user related to improved coherence, the system comprising:
 a sensor, the sensor producing a signal indicative of a physiological parameter of the user;   a portable computing device electronically coupled to the sensor, the portable computing device configured to receive the signal and including a processor and a memory, the memory including a plurality of environments and a set of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including;
 determining the mental state of the user based upon the signal; 
 selecting a one of the plurality of environments based on the determined mental state; 
 delivering the selected one of the plurality of environments to the user; 
 adjusting the selected one based upon the determining, wherein the adjusting is in the form of setting a plurality of initial conditions associated with the selected one of the environments; 
 monitoring the signal; and 
 altering the selected one of the plurality of environments based upon the monitoring. 
   
     
     
         2 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 1 , wherein the physiological parameter is an RR interval. 
     
     
         3 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 2 , wherein the portable computing device receives the signal and determines a coherence, the coherence influencing the altering. 
     
     
         4 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 1 , further including a headset that has a mounting area sized and configured to accept the portable computing device. 
     
     
         5 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 4 , wherein the headset and portable computing device are integrally connected so as to form a single unit without the ability to remove the portable computing device. 
     
     
         6 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of environments are augmented reality environments. 
     
     
         7 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 4 , wherein the plurality of environments are audio feedback environments. 
     
     
         8 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 1 , wherein the set of instructions further includes providing a breath indicator in the viewing area, the breath indicator prompting the user to take a breath at predetermined times. 
     
     
         9 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 8 , further including a breathing monitor suitable for monitoring the breathing of the user and wherein the instructions further include determining the user's reaction time to the prompting of the breath indicator. 
     
     
         10 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 9 , wherein the set of instructions further includes incorporating the reaction time into the predetermined times for prompting. 
     
     
         11 . A biofeedback system comprising:
 a sensor configured to produce a first signal representative of a user's heart rate and to produce a second signal representative of the time between heart beat peaks of the user; and   a portable computing device electronically coupled to the sensor, the portable computing device configured to receive the signal and including a processor and a memory, the memory including a plurality of environments and a set of instructions executable by the processor, the instructions including:
 determining the mental state of the user based upon the first signal and the second signal; 
 selecting a one of the plurality of environments based on the determined mental state; 
 delivering the selected one of the plurality of environments to the user; 
 adjusting the selected one based upon the determining, wherein the adjusting is in the form of setting a plurality of initial conditions associated with the selected one of the environments; 
 monitoring the first signal and the second signal; and 
 altering the selected one of the plurality of environments based upon the monitoring. 
   
     
     
         12 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 11 , wherein the portable computing device receives the signal and the second signal and determines a coherence, the coherence influencing the altering. 
     
     
         13 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 11 , further including a virtual reality headset and wherein the virtual reality headset and portable computing device are integrally connected so as to form a single unit without the ability to remove the portable computing device. 
     
     
         14 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 11 , further including an augmented reality headset in electronic communication with the portable computing device. 
     
     
         15 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 11 , wherein the plurality of environments are audio based environments. 
     
     
         16 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 11 , wherein the set of instructions further includes providing a breath indicator suitable for prompting the user to take a breath at predetermined times. 
     
     
         17 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 16 , further including a breathing monitor suitable for monitoring the breathing of the user and wherein the instructions further include determining the user's reaction time to the prompting by the breath indicator. 
     
     
         18 . A biofeedback system according to  claim 17 , wherein the set of instructions further includes calibrating the prompting of the breath indicator based on the determined reaction time. 
     
     
         19 . A method of improving a mental state of a user in need thereof, the method comprising:
 providing a portable computing device and a sensor configured to transmit a signal representative of physiological information of the user, the portable computing device including a plurality of environments;   determining a current mental state of the user based upon the signal;   setting an initial state of a selected one of the plurality of environments based upon the determining;   providing a breath indicator, the breath indicator indicating when the user should attempt to take a breath;   monitoring the mental state of the user via the sensor; and   adjusting the state of the selected one of the plurality of environments, from the initial state, based upon the monitoring.   
     
     
         20 . A method according to  claim 19 , wherein the determining a current mental state is derived from an HRV score, which is inversely proportional to the user's HRV cycle.