Methods and systems for providing stimuli to the brain
A method of providing sensory stimulation to a user is described. The method includes alternating sensory stimulation between a first sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a left visual stimulus pattern to a left eye and a right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of a head and a second sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a right visual stimulus pattern to a right eye and a left auditory stimulus pattern to the left side of the head. The first sensory stimulation and the second sensory stimulation each include a first stimulus pattern having a first pulse frequency, a second stimulus pattern having a second pulse frequency less than the first pulse frequency, and a third stimulus pattern having a third pulse frequency less than the second pulse frequency. One of the first pulse frequency, the second pulse frequency, or the third pulse frequency is between approximately 6 Hz and 9 Hz.
1. A method of providing sensory stimulation to a user, the method comprising:
alternating sensory stimulation between
a first sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a left visual stimulus pattern to a left eye of the user and a right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of a head of the user; and
a second sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a right visual stimulus pattern to a right eye of the user and a left auditory stimulus pattern to the left side of the head,
wherein the first sensory stimulation and the second sensory stimulation each include a first stimulus pattern having a first pulse frequency, a second stimulus pattern having a second pulse frequency less than the first pulse frequency, and a third stimulus pattern having a third pulse frequency less than the second pulse frequency, and
wherein the first pulse frequency is between approximately 6 Hz and 9 Hz, and one of the second pulse frequency or the third pulse frequency is between approximately 1.25 Hz and 4.25 Hz.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising:
periodically providing the sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing the left visual stimulus pattern to the left eye, the right visual stimulus pattern to the right eye, the left auditory stimulus pattern to the left side of the head, and the right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of the head.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein the left auditory stimulus pattern comprises generating the left auditory stimulus pattern with a left speaker, and wherein generating the right auditory stimulus pattern comprises generating the right auditory stimulus pattern with a right speaker.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein the left auditory stimulus pattern comprises generating the left auditory stimulus pattern with a left bone conduction transducer of a headset, and wherein the right auditory stimulus pattern comprises generating the right auditory stimulus pattern with a right bone conduction transducer of the headset.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein either or both of the left auditory stimulus pattern and the right auditory stimulus pattern include an auditory frequency of approximately 240 Hz to 480 Hz.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein at least one of the first stimulus pattern, the second stimulus pattern, or the third stimulus pattern stimulates for a predetermined time interval.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein the predetermined time interval is approximately 25-35 seconds.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein the sensory stimulation is used to treat a neurological disease, treat a condition, or provide a performance enhancement.
9. The method of claim 8 , wherein the sensory stimulation is used to treat the neurological disease or the condition, and the neurological disease or the condition comprises one or more of insomnia, a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or a brain injury.
10. The method of claim 8 , wherein the treating provides an increase in alpha wave activity in a brain of the user.
11. The method of claim 8 , wherein the performance enhancement is providing an improvement in at least one of sleep, mental capabilities, or physical capabilities.
12. An apparatus to provide stimulation to a user, the apparatus comprising:
a frame configured to be worn on a head of the user;
a controller programmed to generate a plurality of inputs including a left light source input, a right light source input, a left auditory source input, and a right auditory source input;
a left light source configured to generate a left visual stimulus pattern from the left light source input;
a right light source configured to generate a right visual stimulus pattern from the right light source input;
a left auditory source configured to generate a left auditory stimulus pattern from the left auditory source input; and
a right auditory source configured to generate a right auditory stimulus pattern from the right auditory source input;
wherein the controller is programmed to generate inputs which alternate between
a first input including simultaneously generating the left light source input and the right auditory source input; and
a second input including simultaneously generating the right light source input and the left auditory source input,
wherein the first input and the second input each include a first stimulus pattern having a first pulse frequency, a second stimulus pattern having a second pulse frequency less than the first pulse frequency, and a third stimulus pattern having a third pulse frequency less than the second pulse frequency, and
wherein the first pulse frequency is between approximately 6 Hz and 9 Hz, and one of the second pulse frequency or the third pulse frequency is between approximately 1.25 Hz and 4.25 Hz.
13. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the left auditory source or the right auditory source is a speaker.
14. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the left auditory source or the right auditory source is a bone conduction transducer.
15. The apparatus of claim 12 , wherein one or more of the left light source or the right light source comprises a light-emitting diode (LED).
16. A method for treating a neurological disease or a condition or providing performance enhancement, the method comprising:
providing a headset to be worn by a user;
providing sensory stimulation to the user from the headset, wherein the sensory stimulation alternates between
a first sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a left visual stimulus pattern to a left eye of the user and a right auditory stimulus pattern to the right side of a head of the user; and
a second sensory stimulation including simultaneously providing a right visual stimulus pattern to a right eye of the user and a left auditory stimulus pattern to the left side of the head,
wherein the first sensory stimulation and the second sensory stimulation each include a first stimulus pattern having a first pulse frequency, a second stimulus pattern having a second pulse frequency less than the first pulse frequency, and a third stimulus pattern having a third pulse frequency less than the second pulse frequency, and
wherein the first pulse frequency is between approximately 6 Hz and 9 Hz, and one of the second pulse frequency or the third pulse frequency is between approximately 1.25 Hz and 4.25 Hz.
17. The method of claim 16 , wherein the neurological disease or condition comprises one or more of insomnia, a post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), or a brain injury.
18. The method of claim 16 , wherein the treating provides an increase in alpha wave activity in a brain of the user.
19. The method of claim 16 , wherein the performance enhancement is providing an improvement in at least one of sleep, mental capabilities, or physical capabilities.