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US5213562:
Method of inducing mental, emotional and physical states of consciousness, including specific mental activity, in human beings
Inventor(s):
Monroe; Robert A. , Nelson County, VA
Applicant(s):
Interstate Industries Inc., Faber, VA
Issued/Filed Dates:
May 25, 1993 / April 25, 1990
Application Number: US1990000514460
Abstract:
A method having applicability in replication of desired consciousness states; in the training of an individual to replicate such a state of consciousness without further audio stimulation; and in the transferring of such states from one human being to another through the imposition of one individual's EEG, superimposed on desired stereo signals, on another individual, by inducement of a binaural beat phenomenon.
CLAIMS:
What is claimed is:
1. A method of inducing states of consciousness in human beings, comprising:
providing a replicated electroencephalogram (EEG) waveform indicative of a desired state of consciousness;
superimposing said EEG waveform on two separate sets of carrier waves using stereo sound;
creating differential beat frequencies between said sets of carrier waves in accordance with said superimposing step; and
providing the resulting signals in audio form to respective ears of a human being, to induce said state of consciousness.
2. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said creating step includes the step of combining pink with said sets of carrier waves by shifting of said pink sound with respect to said EEG waveform from one stereo audio channel to another, with cyclic changes in amplitude, frequency, and rate of panning.
3. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said steps are performed repeatedly on a particular individual over a period of time so that the individual is able eventually to reproduce said desired state of consciousness without further audio stimulation.
4. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein all of said steps are performed using the EEG of one individual, but said applying step is carried out with another individual, so as to transfer the desired state of consciousness of one individual to another.
5. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said first providing step comprises the step of providing a plurality of EEG waveforms, indicative of different respective states of consciousness, and each of said superimposing, creating, and second providing steps are performed with each of said plurality of EEG waveforms.
6. A method as claimed in claim 1, wherein said second providing step results in substantial synchronization of major portions of both brain hemispheres of said human being.
US5213562: Method of inducing mental, emotional and physical states of consciousness, including specific mental activity, in human beings
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to a method of inducing various states of consciousness in human beings. More particularly, the invention relates to a method of inducing such states of consciousness through generation of stereo audio signals having specific wave shapes which act as a carrier of a binaural beat. The resultant binaural beat acts to entrain brain waves into unique waveforms characteristic of identified states of consciousness. The invention is applicable in areas of learning and behavior replication as well as in the area of sleep inducement, and thus represents a significant departure from and improvement over known audio-based sleep inducement techniques, some of which will be discussed below.
The binaural beat phenomenon was discovered in 1839 by H. W. Dove, a German experimenter. Generally, this phenomenon works as follows. When an individual receives signals of two different frequencies, one signal to each ear, the individual's brain detects a phase difference or differences between these signals. When these signals are naturally occurring, the detected phased difference provides directional information to the higher centers of the brain. However, if these signals are provided through speakers or stereo earphones, the phase difference is detected as an anomaly. The resulting imposition of a consistent phase difference between the incoming signals causes the binaural beat in an amplitude modulated standing wave, within each superior olivary nucleus (sound processing center) of the brain. It is not possible to generate a binaural beat through an electronically mixed signal; rather, the action of both ears is required for detection of this beat.
FIGS. 1A and 1B show two superposed waves of different frequencies. FIG. 1C shows the resulting wave, which has a clear beat phenomenon. Assuming the two waves have equal amplitude but different respective frequencies f1, f2, the combination of the two waves may be represented mathematically as follows: [Figure]
The beat phenomenon arises from the variation in amplitude of a resulting carrier frequency. Pulses appear every 1/2(f1 -f2), with two maxima occurring each cycle, when cos(2.pi.)1/2[f1 -f2 ]=±1. That is, the beat frequency is simply f1 -f2, a result which agrees with experience.
Known consciousness state inducing techniques have not used this binaural beat phenomenon, but have relied on other techniques, as follows. For example the use of audio generators to induce a state of consciousness known as sleep is well known in the prior art, as exemplified by U.S. Pat. No. 2,711,165 and 3,384,074. In one type of technique exemplified in these patents, generated audio signals include pleasing and harmonious study sounds or vibrations, fixed frequency signals which are buried cyclically with respect to amplitude, and repetitive sounds such as the falling of rain on the roof and the sighing wind through the trees.
U.S. Pat. No. 2,304,095 relates to a method of inducing sleep by generation of an audible or tactual signal which is related to the physiological process of heartbeat and respiration. In the disclosed method, the pitch and amplitude of a pleasing audio signal are varied at a rate somewhat slower than either the rate of heartbeat or the rate of respiration. As a result, heartbeat and respiration tend to synchronize with the audio signal, thus lowering heartbeat and respiration rates and inducing sleep.
Of course, there are other naturally-occurring sounds which have been recorded, and which are not varied, but which instead induce a state of relaxation which leads to sleep for a similar reason. For example, the pounding of waves on a shore line occurs at a frequency generally lower than that of heartbeat or respiration, and induces a state of relaxation.
The use of an electroencephalogram (EEG) as a research and diagnostic tool has led to findings that particular brain wave patterns are indicative of different states of consciousness. In 1934, researchers discovered that brain waves, and their associated states of consciousness, could be altered with repetitive visual stimulation at a known frequency, an effect known as entrainment. Scientific interest in entrainment continued throughout the 1960's. In the 1970's, numerous independent studies repeatedly confirmed that rhythmic flashing lights rapidly entrained brain waves.
A sonic equivalent of photic entrainment also is known, as disclosed for example in commonly-assigned U.S. Pat. No. 3,884,218, the inventor of which is the inventor of the present application. This patent discloses a method of inducing sleep in a human being by generating an audio signal which is made up of a familiar pleasing repetitive sound modulated by frequencies usually associated with an EEG sleep pattern. There are different EEG patterns related to various levels or depths of sleep, and it has been found that by modulating the repetitive sound with these different sleep patterns, it is possible to induce various levels of sleep. The inventor has coined the term frequency following response, or FFR, to describe this phenomenon.
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