Method and apparatus for neuroenhancement to facilitate learning and performance

Abstract

A method of facilitating a skill learning process or improving performance of a task, comprising: determining a brainwave pattern reflecting neuronal activity of a skilled subject while engaged in a respective skill or task; processing the determined brainwave pattern with at least one automated processor; and subjecting a subject training in the respective skill or task to brain entrainment by a stimulus selected from the group consisting of one or more of a sensory excitation, a peripheral excitation, a transcranial excitation, and a deep brain stimulation, dependent on the processed temporal pattern extracted from brainwaves reflecting neuronal activity of the skilled subject.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A system for facilitating learning of a motor skill, comprising:
 a brainwave detector, configured to capture brainwaves of a user;   a neural stimulator, configured to stimulate a nervous system of the user with a modulated pattern, and to entrain the brainwaves of the user with the modulated pattern; and   at least one automated processor, configured to:   determine a waveform of captured brainwaves over time from the user;   control the neural stimulator to induce a brain state corresponding to a readiness for training in the motor task, said readiness for training in the motor task being distinct from a readiness for performing the motor task, the brain state corresponding to a readiness for training in the motor task being determined based on brainwave patterns of a subject skilled in the motor skill;   process the determined waveform to detect the brain state corresponding to the readiness for training in the motor task; and   after detection of the brain state corresponding to the readiness for training in the motor task, commence training of the user in the motor skill.   
     
     
         2 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one automated processor is further configured control the neural stimulator to stimulate the user training in the motor skill with a stimulus dependent on a brainwave pattern of the subject skilled in the motor skill. 
     
     
         3 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the neural stimulator is configured to generate a stimulus selected from the group consisting of one or more of a sensory excitation, a peripheral excitation, a transcranial excitation, and a deep brain stimulation. 
     
     
         4 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the neural stimulator stimulates the nervous system of the user with a modulated pattern dependent on real time feedback from captured brainwaves of a user. 
     
     
         5 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the brainwave detector is configured to capture a spatial pattern of brainwaves of the user, and the at least one automated processor is configured to control the neural stimulator in dependence on the captured spatial pattern. 
     
     
         6 . The system according to  claim 5 , wherein the at least one automated processor is configured to adaptively modify the modulated pattern to synchronize an electrical phase of the brainwaves of the user with a brainwave pattern stored in a memory. 
     
     
         7 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the modulated pattern is responsive to the captured brainwaves prior to stimulation of the user with the modulated pattern. 
     
     
         8 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor comprises at least one single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) type processor further configured to at least one of:
 perform a data matrix transformation.   perform a space-time domain transform;   perform a statistical analysis of the captured brainwaves of the user; and   employ a machine learning algorithm to implement artificial intelligence.   
     
     
         9 . The system according to  claim 1 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to perform a space-time domain transform. 
     
     
         10 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising a memory configured to a plurality of brainwave patterns in a database, and to select a respective brainwave pattern from the database. 
     
     
         11 . The apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the neural stimulator is an auditory stimulator configured to generate binaural beats. 
     
     
         12 . A method for facilitating learning of a motor skill, comprising:
 capturing brainwaves of a user with a brainwave detector;   stimulating a nervous system of the user with a modulated pattern, and entraining the brainwaves of the user with the modulated pattern, using a neural stimulator;   determining a waveform of captured brainwaves over time from the user;   controlling the neural stimulator, with at least one automated processor, to induce a brain state corresponding to a readiness for training in the motor task, said readiness for training in the motor task being distinct from a readiness for performing the motor task, the brain state corresponding to a readiness for training in the motor task being determined based on brainwave patterns of a subject skilled in the motor skill;   processing the determined waveform, with the at least one automated processor, to detect the brain state corresponding to the readiness for training in the motor task; and   after detection of the brain state corresponding to the readiness for training in the motor task, commencing training of the user in the motor skill.   
     
     
         13 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising controlling the neural stimulator to stimulate the user training in the motor skill with a stimulus dependent on a brainwave pattern of the subject skilled in the motor skill. 
     
     
         14 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising generating a stimulus selected from the group consisting of one or more of a sensory excitation, a peripheral excitation, a transcranial excitation, and a deep brain stimulation, with the neural stimulator. 
     
     
         15 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the neural stimulator stimulates the nervous system of the user with a modulated pattern dependent on real time feedback from captured brainwaves of a user. 
     
     
         16 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the brainwave detector captures a spatial pattern of brainwaves of the user, the neural stimulator is controlled in dependence on the captured spatial pattern. 
     
     
         17 . The method according to  claim 16 , further comprising adaptively modifying the modulated pattern to synchronize an electrical phase of the brainwaves of the user with a brainwave pattern stored in a memory. 
     
     
         18 . The method according to  claim 12 , wherein the at least one processor comprises at least one single-instruction multiple-data (SIMD) type processor further configured to at least one of:
 perform a data matrix transformation.   perform a space-time domain transform;   perform a statistical analysis of the captured brainwaves of the user; and   employ a machine learning algorithm to implement artificial intelligence.   
     
     
         19 . The method according to  claim 12 , further comprising storing a plurality of brainwave patterns in a database, and selective retrieving a respective brainwave pattern from the database to control the neural stimulator. 
     
     
         20 . A computer readable medium storing non-transitory instructions for controlling at least one automated processor to facilitating learning of a motor skill, comprising instructions for performing a method comprising:
 capturing brainwaves of a user with a brainwave detector;   stimulating a nervous system of the user with a modulated pattern, and entraining the brainwaves of the user with the modulated pattern, using a neural stimulator;   determining a waveform of captured brainwaves over time from the user, and processing the determined waveform, to detect the brain state corresponding to the readiness for training in the motor task; and   controlling the neural stimulator, to induce a brain state corresponding to a readiness for training in the motor task, said readiness for training in the motor task being distinct from a readiness for performing the motor task, the brain state corresponding to a readiness for training in the motor task being determined based on brainwave patterns of a subject skilled in the motor skill.