Method and apparatus for changing brain wave frequency

Abstract

A method for changing brain wave frequency to a desired frequency determines a current brain wave frequency of a user, generates two frequencies with a frequency difference of a magnitude between that of the current actual brain wave frequency and the desired frequency but always within a predetermined range of the current actual brain wave frequency, and produces an output to the user corresponding to the two frequencies. One apparatus to accomplish the method has a computer processor, a computer memory, EEG electrodes along with an amplifier, a programmable timing generator responsive to the computer processor for generating the two frequencies, audio amplifiers and a beat frequency generator driving a visual frequency amplifier.

We claim: 
     
       1. A method for stimulating a user, comprising in combination the steps of: determining a desired brain wave frequency;   determining a current brain wave frequency of the user;   generating a first signal at a first frequency;   generating a second signal at a second frequency .Iadd.creating a frequency difference between the first frequency and the second frequency .Iaddend.wherein the frequency difference .[.between the first and second signals.]. is between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency and is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency; and   producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal equal to the frequency difference.   
     
     
       2. A method according to claim 1 further comprising: repeating the steps of determining a current brain wave frequency, generating a first signal, generating a second signal, and producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal equal to the frequency difference until the current brain wave frequency is within a predetermined range of the desired brain wave frequency, further comprising:   maintaining the difference between the first and second frequencies substantially equal to the desired brain wave frequency for a predetermined amount of time; and   changing the desired brain wave frequency to a second desired brain wave frequency and repeating the steps of determining a current brain wave frequency, generating a first signal, generating a second signal, and producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal equal to the frequency difference until the current brain wave frequency is within a predetermined range of the desired brain wave frequency.   
     
     
       3. A method according to claim 2 wherein the step of producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal equal to the frequency difference comprises sounding the first and second signals. 
     
     
       4. A method according to claim 2 wherein the second desired brain wave frequency substantially equals the original current brain wave frequency. 
     
     
       5. A method according to claim 1 further comprising: repeating the steps of determining a current brain wave frequency, generating a first signal, generating a second signal, and producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal .[.equal to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the frequency difference until the current brain wave frequency is within a predetermined range of the desired brain wave frequency, further comprising:   maintaining the difference between the first and second frequencies substantially equal to the desired brain wave frequency for a predetermined amount of time; and   producing no output detectable by the user for a second predetermined amount of time.   
     
     
       6. An apparatus for urging the brain wave frequency of a user toward a desired brain wave frequency, the apparatus comprising in combination: means for determining a current brain wave frequency of the user;   means for generating a first signal at a first frequency;   means for generating a second signal at a second frequency wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.there is a .Iaddend.frequency difference between the first .Iadd.frequency .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.second .[.signals.]. .Iadd.frequency and the frequency difference .Iaddend.is between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency and is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency; and   means for producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal .[.equal to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the frequency difference.   
     
     
       7. An apparatus according to claim 6 wherein the means for producing an output detectable by the user corresponding to the first and second signals to generate a beat signal .[.equal to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the frequency difference comprises means for sounding the first and second signals. 
     
     
       8. An apparatus for urging the brain wave frequency of a user toward a desired brain wave frequency, the apparatus comprising in combination: a computer processor;   .[.a memory which can be written to and read from the computer processor;.].   means .Iadd.in communication with the computer processor .Iaddend.for determining a current brain wave frequency of the user.[., which communicates with the computer processor.].;   a programmable timing generator .Iadd.operatively connected to and .Iaddend.responsive to the computer processor .[.and.]. .Iadd.for .Iaddend.generating a first signal at a first frequency and a second signal at a second frequency wherein .[.the.]. .Iadd.there is a .Iaddend.frequency difference between the first .Iadd.frequency .Iaddend.and .Iadd.the .Iaddend.second .[.signals.]. .Iadd.frequency and the frequency difference .Iaddend.is between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency and is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency; .Iadd.and .Iaddend.   means .Iadd.responsive to the programmable timing generator and .Iaddend.detectable by the user for producing an output corresponding to the first and second signals.   
     
     
       9. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the means detectable by the user is a means for sounding the first and second signals. 
     
     
       10. An apparatus according to claim 8 wherein the means detectable by the user comprises a means for generating a beat signal .[.equal to.]. .Iadd.at .Iaddend.the frequency difference .[.of the first and second signals.].. 
     
     
       11. An apparatus according to claim 10 wherein the means detectable by the user further comprises light means .Iadd.for visual detection by the user, .Iaddend.responsive to the means for generating a beat frequency. .Iadd.12. A method for stimulating a user, comprising in combination the steps of: determining a desired brain wave frequency;   determining a current brain wave frequency of the user;   generating a signal at a frequency between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency which is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency; and   producing an output detectable by the user at the signal frequency. .Iaddend..Iadd.13. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:   repeating the steps of determining a current brain wave frequency, generating a signal at a frequency between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency which is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency, and producing an output detectable by the user at the signal frequency until the current brain wave frequency is within a predetermined range of the desired brain wave frequency, further comprising:   maintaining the signal frequency substantially equal to the desired brain wave frequency for a predetermined amount of time; and   changing the desired brain wave frequency to a second desired brain wave frequency and repeating the steps of determining a current brain wave frequency, generating a signal at a frequency between the current brain wave frequency and the second desired brain wave frequency which is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency, and producing an output detectable by the user at the signal frequency equal until the current brain wave frequency is within a predetermined range of the second desired brain wave frequency. .Iaddend..Iadd.14. A method according to claim 13 wherein the second desired brain wave frequency substantially equals the original current brain wave frequency. .Iaddend..Iadd.15. A method according to claim 12 further comprising:   repeating the steps of determining a current brain wave frequency, generating a signal at a frequency between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency which is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency, and producing an output detectable by the user at the signal frequency until the current brain wave frequency is within a predetermined range of the desired brain wave frequency, further comprising:   maintaining the signal frequency substantially equal to the desired brain wave frequency for a predetermined amount of time; and   producing no output detectable by the user for a second predetermined amount of time. .Iaddend..Iadd.16. An apparatus for urging the brain wave frequency of a user toward a desired brain wave frequency, the apparatus comprising in combination:   means for determining a current brain wave frequency of the user;   means for generating a signal at a frequency between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency which is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency; and   means for producing an output detectable by the user at the signal   
     
     
        frequency. .Iaddend..Iadd.17.  An apparatus for urging the brain wave frequency of a user toward a desired brain wave frequency, the apparatus comprising in combination: a computer processor;   means in communication with the computer processor for determining a current brain wave frequency of the user;   a programmable timing generator operatively connected to and responsive to the computer processor for generating a signal at a frequency which is between the current brain wave frequency and the desired brain wave frequency and is within a predetermined range of the current brain wave frequency;   means responsive to the programmable timing generator and detectable by the   
     
     
        user for producing an output at the signal frequency. .Iadd.18.  An apparatus according to claim 17 wherein the means detectable by the user comprises light means for visual detection by the user, responsive to the signal frequency. .Iaddend.