Modulation of mental state of a user using a non-invasive brain interface system and method

Abstract

Brain activity of a user is detected, and a mental state of the user is determined. In one technique, life/work context is automatically presented to the user in a manner that modulates the mental state of the user. In another technique, an entertainment selection is presented to the user, and an entertainment selection list is automatically modified in response to the determined mental state of the user. In still another technique, the mental state that is determined is a negative emotional state, and life/work context is automatically presented to the user in a manner that promotes a cognitive state of the user in response to the determined emotional state of the user. In yet another technique, the wellness of the user is automatically tracked over a time period based on the determined mental state.

1 - 51 . (canceled) 
     
     
         52 . A mental state modulation system, comprising:
 a peripheral device containing software configured for presenting life/work context to a user in a normal life and work environment outside of a clinical setting;   a non-invasive brain interface assembly configured for detecting brain activity of the user; and   at least one processor containing software configured for determining a negative emotional state of the user based on the detected brain activity, and in response to the determined negative emotional state of the user, for automatically instructing the peripheral device to present the life/work context to the user in a manner that promotes a cognitive state of the user.   
     
     
         53 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the non-invasive brain interface assembly is configured for detecting the brain activity of the user while the peripheral device presents the life/work context to the user, and wherein the at least one processor is configured for, in response to the determined negative emotional state of the user, automatically instructing the peripheral device to modify the life/work context presented to the user in a manner that promotes the cognitive state of the user. 
     
     
         54 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured for determining that the user is continually in the emotional state for a certain period of time, wherein the at least one processor is configured for only automatically instructing the peripheral device to present the life/work context to the user only if it is determined that the user is continually in the negative emotional state for the certain period of time. 
     
     
         55 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the negative emotional state comprises one or more of anxiety, anger, disgust, fear, contempt, and sadness. 
     
     
         56 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the life/work context comprises entertainment media. 
     
     
         57 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 56 , wherein the entertainment media comprises music. 
     
     
         58 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the peripheral device is configured for being manually programmed with the cognitive state. 
     
     
         59 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the non-invasive brain interface assembly is one of an optical measurement assembly and a magnetic measurement assembly. 
     
     
         60 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the non-invasive brain interface assembly comprises at least one detector configured for detecting energy from a brain of the user, and processing circuitry configured for identifying the brain activity in response to detecting the energy from the brain of the user. 
     
     
         61 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 60 , wherein the non-invasive brain interface assembly comprises a head-worn unit carrying the at least one detector. 
     
     
         62 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 61 , wherein the non-invasive brain interface assembly comprises an auxiliary non-head-worn unit carrying the processing circuitry. 
     
     
         63 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein at least a portion of the software of the at least one processor is contained in the peripheral device. 
     
     
         64 . A method of modulating a mental state of a user while the user is in a normal life and work environment outside of a clinical setting, comprising:
 detecting brain activity of the user;   determining a negative emotional state of the user based on the detected brain activity; and   automatically presenting life/work context to the user in a manner that promotes a cognitive state of the user in response to the determined negative emotional state of the user.   
     
     
         65 . The method of  claim 64 , the brain activity of the user is detected while the life/work context is presented to the user, and wherein the life/work context presented to the user is modified in a manner that promotes the cognitive state of the user in response to the determined negative emotional state of the user. 
     
     
         66 . The method of  claim 64 , further comprising determining that the user is continually in the negative emotional state for a certain period of time, wherein the life/work context presented to the user only if it is determined that the user is continually in the negative emotional state for the certain period of time. 
     
     
         67 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the negative emotional state comprises one or more of anxiety, anger, disgust, fear, contempt, and sadness. 
     
     
         68 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein the life/work context comprises entertainment media. 
     
     
         69 . The method of  claim 68 , wherein the entertainment media comprises music. 
     
     
         70 . The method of  claim 64 , wherein detecting the brain activity of the user comprises one of optically detecting the brain activity of the user and magnetically detecting the brain activity of the user. 
     
     
         71 - 92 . (canceled) 
     
     
         93 . The mental state modulation system of  claim 52 , wherein the non-invasive brain interface assembly is portable and wearable.