Apparatus for Inducing Frequency Reduction in Brain Wave

The present invention relates to an apparatus to induce frequency reduction in human brain wave.

The human brain wave produced when the five sensory organs are in action is called as "beta-rhythm", a brain wave of 15 hertz or higher, which is reduced to the "alpha-rhythm", a brain wave of 7 to 14 hertz, by mental relaxation.

One may exhibit an amazing ability when one's brain wave is in alpha-rhythm. In such state, a great ability may be exhibited in learning, researching, and making invention.

So far no effective means to induce frequency reduction in human brain wave was proposed.

Accordingly, one general object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to induce frequency reduction in human brain wave.

Still more specific object of the invention is to provide an apparatus to allow human brain to perceive a beat sound within a prescribed frequency range.

These and other objects as may become apparent hereafter have been attained with an apparatus, comprising means for generating a pair of low-frequency signals; said signals being different in frequency by 4-16 hertz.

The present invention will hereinafter be explained with reference to the accompanying drawings:

FIG. 1 show a basic structure of an apparatus according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows another basic structure using single sound source;

FIG. 3 shows a circuit diagram of an oscillator feasible in the invention;

FIG. 4 shows a circuit diagram of an apparatus feasible to generate a correct frequency difference;

FIG. 5 shows a circuit diagram wherein decade counters are used;

FIG. 6 shows the frequency of human brain waves; and

FIG. 7 shows a waveform chart illustrating frequency lowering operation of decade counter.

In the Figures, F indicates oscillator; SP, loudspeaker; IC, linear integrated circuit; C, capacitance; R, resistance; A, frequency lowering-circuit; B, waveform-modifier; D, decade counter; and S, switch.

FIG. 1 shows a basic structure of an apparatus according to the invention, wherein the outputs of first- and second-oscillators F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are sounded with loudspeakers SP.sub.1 and SP.sub.2 respectively. The ears perceive their frequency difference as beat. Human brain wave can be reduced to alpha-rhythm by employing a beat frequency approximate or equal to alpha-rhythm.

FIG. 2 shows an example wherein the outputs of first- and second-oscillators F.sub.1 and F.sub.2 are sounded with single loudspeaker SP.

FIG. 3 illustrates an oscillator circuit, essentially consisting of linear integrated circuit IC, capacitance C and resistance R, feasible in first- and second-oscillators F.sub.1 and F.sub.2. The oscillation frequency f is expressed by f=1/.kappa.RC, where .kappa. is the constant. In the apparatus according to the invention, the oscillation frequency f is generally set to 120-180 hertz.

FIG. 4 shows a means for fixing the frequency difference in order to obtain a stabilized beat. For example, 900 hertz fundamental frequency, produced by oscillator F, is applied to frequency lowering-circuits A.sub.1, A.sub.2 and A.sub.3 to obtain signal with one-ninth, one-eighth or one-seventh of the fundamental frequency, i.e. 100, 112.5 and 128 hertz, respectively. These signals are changed by waveform-modifiers B.sub.1, B.sub.2 and B.sub.3 into more audible signals, and then used to generate a beat sound corresponding to either frequency difference of 112.5-100=12.5 (hertz) or 128-112.5=15.5 (hertz).

FIG. 5 shows an example wherein fundamental frequency f produced by oscillator F is lowered by decade counter F. Decade counter F is arranged to produce single synchronous signals at output terminals 9, 8, 7 and 6 for every ninth-, eighth-, seventh- or sixth-cycles of the fundamental frequency. For example, when oscillator F is supposed to generate 900 hertz signal, then 100 hertz signal appears at output terminal 9 of decade counter D.sub.1. Similarly, output terminal 8 of decade counter D.sub.2 is applied with 112.5 hertz signal; terminal 7, 128.5 hertz signal; and terminal 6, 150 hertz signal. By turning an output terminal 9 of decade counter D.sub.1 and output terminal of 8 of decade counter D.sub.2 with switches S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, a 12.5 hertz beat sound is produced, while by using output terminal 9 of decade counter D.sub.1 and output terminal 7 of decade counter D.sub.2 a 28.5 hertz beat is sounded. A beat sound with a desirable frequency, obtained by turning on any two output terminals with switches S.sub.1 and S.sub.2, is changed with waveform-modifiers B.sub.1 and B.sub.2 into a more audible signal, and then sounded by loudspeakers SP.sub.1 and SP.sub.2.

FIG. 6 shows the frequency of human brain waves: It can be seen that the frequency of human brain wave produced when the five sensory organs are in action is 15 hertz or higher, but shiftable to alpha-rhythm, i.e. 7-14 hertz, by mental relaxation.

FIG. 7 shows the operations of decade counter D.

When successive signals 0, 1, 2, . . . , and 16 come into decade counters D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 in a manner as shown with chart "P", for example, seventh- and eighth-signal 7 and 8 produce single pulses at decade counters D.sub.1 and D.sub.2 respectively to back them to the first state for the subsequent counting. By using these as synchronous signal, sine or other suitable waveform can be desirably generated, followed by modification into a more audible waveform with waveform-modifier B.

An electroencephalographic study using volunteers confirmed that 4-16 hertz beat sound is most effective to lower the frequency of human brain wave to 8-14 hertz alpha-rhythm. I found that such beat sound is also effective to retain alpha-rhythm, as well as to bring human brain wave from either "theta-rhythm" or "delta-rhythm" into alpha-rhythm.

Having described the present invention as related to the embodiments shown in the accompanying drawings, it is my intention that the invention is not limited by any of the details of description, but rather be construed broadly within its spirit and scope as set out in the accompanying claims.