US-20260128032-A1 - Noninvasive Neural Stimulation Through Audio

US20260128032A1US 20260128032 A1US20260128032 A1US 20260128032A1US-20260128032-A1

Abstract

First data comprising a first range of audio frequencies is received. The first range of audio frequencies corresponds to a predetermined cochlear region of a listener. Second data comprising a second range of audio frequencies is also received. Third data comprising a first modulated range of audio frequencies is acquired. The third data is acquired by modulating the first range of audio frequencies according to a stimulation protocol that is configured to provide neural stimulation of a brain of the listener. The second data and the third data are arranged to generate an audio composition from the second data and the third data.

Inventors

Adam Hewitt

Assignees

BRAINFM, INC.

Dates

Publication Date: 20260507
Application Date: 20250811

Claims (20)

1 . Tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by one or more processors, cause a computing system to perform functions comprising: determining a rate and a phase of one or more rhythmic elements of an audio track; generating a stimulation protocol configured to induce a target neural oscillation frequency in a listener's brain, wherein the stimulation protocol comprises a modulation waveform, a modulation rate, a modulation phase, and a modulation depth for a duration of time, wherein the modulation rate corresponds to the target neural oscillation frequency, and wherein the modulation rate and the modulation phase are consistent with the rate and the phase of the one or more rhythmic elements of the audio track; and producing a modulated audio track by modulating the audio track according to the stimulation protocol; and causing output of the modulated audio track via a playback device.
2 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the modulation depth is based on a desired stimulation intensity.
3 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the modulation depth varies over the duration of time.
4 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the modulation waveform comprises a complex waveform.
5 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the modulation waveform is selected to target a specific region of the listener's brain.
6 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the modulation rate is between about 2 Hz and about 16 Hz, and wherein the target neural oscillation frequency is between about 4 Hz and about 40 Hz.
7 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the one or more rhythmic elements of the audio track comprise one or more beats and/or musical notes.
8 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein the modulation waveform is selected from a library of waveforms, wherein individual waveforms in the library of waveforms have corresponding target neural oscillation frequencies.
9 . The tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media of claim 1 , wherein producing the modulated audio track by modulating the audio track according to the stimulation protocol comprises applying amplitude modulation to the audio track based on the stimulation protocol.
10 . A method performed by a computing system, wherein the method comprises: determining a rate and a phase of one or more rhythmic elements of an audio track; generating a stimulation protocol configured to induce a target neural oscillation frequency in a listener's brain, wherein the stimulation protocol comprises a modulation waveform, a modulation rate, a modulation phase, and a modulation depth for a duration of time, wherein the modulation rate corresponds to the target neural oscillation frequency, and wherein the modulation rate and the modulation phase are consistent with the rate and the phase of the one or more rhythmic elements of the audio track; and producing a modulated audio track by modulating the audio track according to the stimulation protocol; and causing output of the modulated audio track via a playback device.
11 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the modulation depth is based on a desired stimulation intensity.
12 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the modulation depth varies over the duration of time.
13 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the modulation waveform comprises a complex waveform.
14 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the modulation waveform is selected to target a specific region of the listener's brain.
15 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the modulation rate is between about 2 Hz and about 16 Hz, and wherein the target neural oscillation frequency is between about 4 Hz and about 40 Hz.
16 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the one or more rhythmic elements of the audio track comprise one or more beats and/or musical notes.
17 . The method of claim 10 , wherein the modulation waveform is selected from a library of waveforms, wherein individual waveforms in the library of waveforms have corresponding target neural oscillation frequencies.
18 . The method of claim 10 , wherein producing the modulated audio track by modulating the audio track according to the stimulation protocol comprises applying amplitude modulation to the audio track based on the stimulation protocol.
19 . A computing system, wherein the computing system comprises: one or more processors; and tangible, non-transitory computer-readable media comprising program instructions, wherein the program instructions, when executed by the one or more processors, cause the computing system to perform functions comprising: determining a rate and a phase of one or more rhythmic elements of an audio track; generating a stimulation protocol configured to induce a target neural oscillation frequency in a listener's brain, wherein the stimulation protocol comprises a modulation waveform, a modulation rate, a modulation phase, and a modulation depth for a duration of time, wherein the modulation rate corresponds to the target neural oscillation frequency, and wherein the modulation rate and the modulation phase are consistent with the rate and the phase of the one or more rhythmic elements of the audio track; and producing a modulated audio track by modulating the audio track according to the stimulation protocol; and causing output of the modulated audio track via a playback device.
20 . The computing system of claim 19 , wherein the computing system comprises the playback device.

Description

CROSS REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS This application is a continuation of U.S. App. Ser. No. 18/067,921 titled “Noninvasive Neural Stimulation Through Audio,” filed Dec. 19, 2022, and currently pending; U.S. application Ser. No. 18/067,921 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 17/556,623, titled “Noninvasive Neural Stimulation Through Audio,” filed Dec. 20, 2021, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,532,298 on Dec. 20, 2022; U.S. application Ser. No. 17/556,623 is a continuation of U.S. application Ser. No. 16/276,961 titled “Noninvasive Neural Stimulation Through Audio,” filed Feb. 15, 2019, and issued as U.S. Pat. No. 11,205,414 on Dec. 21, 2021. The entire contents of U.S. Application Ser. Nos. 18/067,921; 17/556,623; and Ser. No. 16/276,961 are incorporated herein by reference. TECHNICAL FIELD The present disclosure relates to neural stimulation, and in particular, noninvasive neural stimulation using audio. BACKGROUND For decades, neuroscientists have observed wave-like activity in the brain called neural oscillations. Various aspects of these oscillations have been related to attentional states. The ability to influence attentional states, via noninvasive brain stimulation, would be greatly desirable. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIGS. 1A and 1B are visual representations of entrainment, according example embodiments. FIG. 2 is a process flow for providing noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 3 is a visual representation of audio filtering used in providing noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 4 is an illustration of a software user interface configured to generate a cochlear profile for use in noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 5 is a visual representation of audio fidelity for use in noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 6 is an illustration of a software user interface configured to generate a stimulation profile for use in noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIGS. 7A-C are visual representations of the alignment of a modulation signal with the rhythmic elements of an audio element being modulated according to phase and rate to provide noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIGS. 8A-C are visual representations of modulation depth for use in noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 9 is a graph comparing the Phase-Locking Value between a modulated acoustic element and the output of an Electroencephalogram to the Phase-Locking Value between an unmodulated acoustic element and the output of an Electroencephalogram, according to example embodiments. FIGS. 10A and 10B are illustrations of modulation waveforms used to target specific areas of the brain for use in noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 11 is an illustration of a software user interface used to generate stimulation waveforms that target specific areas of a brain for noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 12 is functional diagram of an audio arranger used in noninvasive neural stimulation using audio, according to example embodiments. FIG. 13 is a flowchart illustrating a process flow for providing the noninvasive neural stimulation using audio techniques, according to example embodiments. FIG. 14 is a functional diagram of an apparatus configured to provide the noninvasive neural stimulation using audio of the present disclosure, according to example embodiments. DESCRIPTION OF EXAMPLE EMBODIMENTS Overview The present disclosure is directed to methods of neural stimulation with any audio. Example embodiments provide a neuroscience-informed way to select for audio components which, when combined with modulated audio components, create an audio arrangement which will stimulate the brain in a noninvasive way. According to example embodiments of the present application, first data comprising a first range of audio frequencies is received. The first range of audio frequencies corresponds to a predetermined cochlear region of a listener. Second data comprising a second range of audio frequencies is also received. Third data comprising a first modulated range of audio frequencies is acquired. The third data is acquired by modulating the first range of audio frequencies according to a stimulation protocol that is configured to provide neural stimulation of a brain of the listener. The second data and the third data are arranged to generate an audio composition from the second data and the third data. Example Embodiments Described herein are techniques that provide for non-invasive neural stimulation of the brain. For example, the techniques of the present application utilize modulation of audio elements (e.g., amplitude modulation or volume modul