JP2007325872A - Biofeedback apparatus and program - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a biofeedback apparatus inexpensively and conveniently used by its simple constitution. <P>SOLUTION: The temperatures of the left/right palms of a subject 10 are detected by temperature sensors 11L and 11R, and a differential amplification circuit 12 outputs a signal according to its temperature difference to a sound reproducing circuit 13 and a speaker control circuit 14. The sound reproducing circuit 13 reproduces a sound signal at a volume level according to the level of the signal input from the differential amplification circuit 12. The speaker control circuit 14, when the level of the signal input from the differential amplification circuit 12 is positive (the left body temperature is higher than the right), turns on a speaker 15L alone and, when it is negative (the right body temperature is higher than the left) turns on the speaker 15R alone. The sound signal reproduced by the sound reproducing circuit 13 is output to the speaker 15L or 15R in a turned-on state and reaches the left ear or the right ear of the subject 10. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2008,JPO&INPIT

Description

  The present invention relates to a biofeedback device that controls an output mode of sound output to a living body according to biological information detected from the living body.

  It has become common knowledge in the medical community that psycosomatic disorders, such as autonomic dysfunction, occur due to failure of the first issue of mind and body. Various treatments for this psychosomatic disorder are known, but the most objective of these treatments that can easily determine the therapeutic effect is to detect unaware information from the living body and feed it back to the living body. It is a biofeedback therapy that enables control of the autonomic nervous system.

  For example, “skin temperature biofeedback therapy” that voluntarily raises and lowers the temperature of the left and right palms as a biofeedback therapy for treating “hyperhidrosis”, which is considered to be one of autonomic dystonia, is safe and simple It is known as an effective therapy. In an apparatus for realizing this skin temperature biofeedback therapy, biofeedback is performed on a living body by displaying a biofeedback signal in accordance with a detection result of patient biometric information.

  In addition, there is a biofeedback device that aims to increase the real time of the game by changing the mental activity state of the game player rather than treating the psychosomatic disease (see, for example, Patent Document 1). In this biofeedback device, for auditory stimulation, one method is to synchronize brain waves with binaural beats. For example, let 98Hz sound and 100Hz sound be heard in the right and left ears in stereo sound, and synchronize the 2Hz brain wave corresponding to the difference in sound frequency heard by both ears, Control becomes possible.

JP 2001-252265 A (paragraphs 0082 and 0083)

  However, the device for realizing the skin temperature biofeedback therapy described above uses an excessive amount of sensors for detecting biological information, and generally requires an unfamiliar biofeedback signal display device. Therefore, it was never easy to use for patients without specialized knowledge. Also, other known biofeedback devices require relatively complicated devices as well.

  Moreover, the biofeedback device of Patent Document 1 is not intended for the treatment of psychosomatic disorders, but directly acts on the living body by the difference between the left and right audio frequencies. Further, the relationship between the detected biological information and the control of the left and right audio frequencies is not specifically disclosed and is unclear. For example, in the case of a patient whose mental state is disturbed, there is often a bias in the reaction of the living body for each part, whereas in the case of Patent Document 1, such a case is completely considered. Absent. Moreover, since the sound of a specific frequency is continuously output, there is a possibility that the patient who hears such a monotonous sound may feel bored.

  An object of this invention is to provide the biofeedback apparatus which can be used cheaply and easily by simple structure, and the program for implement | achieving biofeedback therapy.

In order to achieve the above object, a biofeedback device according to the first aspect of the present invention comprises:
A biofeedback device that outputs to a living body a sound whose output mode is changed according to living body information detected from the living body,
A biometric information detection unit configured by a left side detection unit that detects biometric information from the left side of the living body and a right side detection unit that detects biometric information from the right side of the living body;
Biometric information difference calculating means for calculating a difference between the biometric information detected by the left detecting means and the biometric information detected by the right detecting means;
Audio output means comprising left output means for outputting sound to the left side of the living body, and right output means for outputting sound to the right side of the living body;
Voice output control means for changing sound pressures of voices respectively output from the left output means and the right output means in accordance with the difference between the biometric information calculated by the biometric information difference calculating means. And

  In the biofeedback device, biological information is detected from the left and right sides of the living body, and the difference is calculated. Then, the sound pressure of the sound output from the left output means and the right output means, that is, the sound pressure output to the left and right sides of the living body, is changed according to the difference between the calculated left and right biometric information. A psychosomatic patient may perform autonomous training so as to eliminate the sound pressure difference between the left and right voices. For example, if the consciousness is directed to the right half and the sound pressure difference is slightly resolved, the consciousness may be continuously directed to the right half until the sound pressure difference is further resolved. In this way, autonomous training that intentionally changes the left and right states of the living body can be easily performed.

  Here, in order to perform autonomous training for intentionally changing the left and right states of the living body, the only information that needs to be input from the living body to the biofeedback device is the left and right living body information. It is known that the information that needs to be output is only the sound whose sound pressure has been changed on the left and right sides, and the means for performing either can be realized with an apparatus having a relatively simple configuration. Also, the only necessary means between the input of the biological information and the output of the sound are the means for calculating the difference between the biological information and the means for changing the sound pressure of the sound output to the left and right respectively, both of which are relatively It has been known that it can be realized by a device having a simple configuration.

  Since the biofeedback device can be manufactured at a low cost and can be reduced in size, for example, a patient with psychosomatic disease can be treated at home because it is configured only by means that can be realized by a device with a relatively simple configuration. It is also suitable for use in. Furthermore, what the user has to set when using the biofeedback device is to attach the biological information detection means and the sound output means correctly to the right and left. For this reason, even those with poor technical knowledge can easily use it.

  Since the biofeedback device controls the “sound pressure” of the sound output from the sound output means, it can also be applied as a sound whose pitch changes, that is, a music output sound. In this case, the biofeedback device can be used without being bored by the voice output by the user.

In the biofeedback device,
The biological information detecting means may detect the body temperature of the living body as biological information of the living body.

  In this case, among the sensors that detect various biological information, a temperature sensor that requires a relatively simple configuration is applied as the biological information detecting means. Therefore, the biofeedback device has a simpler configuration and is inexpensive. Can be manufactured.

In this case,
The voice output control means is a voice output corresponding to a higher one of the left and right body temperatures of the living body detected by the left detection means and the right detection means of the left output means and the right output means. The sound can be output only from the means.

  In addition, the sound output control unit is configured to generate a sound of a sound output from the sound output unit corresponding to the higher body temperature of the living body in accordance with the difference between the left and right body temperatures of the living body calculated by the living body information difference calculating unit. The pressure can be changed.

  Since it is only necessary to output sound from only one of the left output means or the right output means as described above, it is not necessary to consider the function of controlling the sound pressure of the output sound separately on the left and right, and a simpler device It can be configured. In addition, since sound is output only from one of the left and right, even if the difference between the left and right biological information is small, a difference in sound pressure (at least one must be 0) can be easily felt, so that the patient can easily perform autonomous training. Can be implemented. In addition, even if it is output from only one of the left and right sides, changing the sound pressure of the sound according to the difference in body temperature between the left and right makes it easier to determine whether the consciousness should be directed to the left or right side, Autonomous training that intentionally changes the state of can be performed efficiently.

The biofeedback device is
Reference information generating means for generating reference information serving as a reference as a difference between the biological information on the left side and the biological information on the right side of the living body may be further provided. In this case,
The biometric information difference calculating unit calculates a difference between the biometric information detected by the left side detecting unit and the biometric information detected by the right side detecting unit, and further, the difference information of the biometric information and the reference information generating unit It is possible to calculate a difference from the generated reference information.

  In this case, by setting the reference information generated by the reference information generating means in advance by the patient who intends to perform the autonomous training, not only the autonomous training that matches the left and right biological information but also the left and right Autonomous training in which a predetermined difference occurs in the biological information can be easily performed.

In order to achieve the above object, a program according to the second aspect of the present invention is:
Executed in a computer device connected to a pair of left and right biological information detection devices for detecting biological information from the left and right sides of the living body and a pair of left and right audio output devices for outputting sounds to the left and right sides of the living body, respectively, A program for generating an audio signal for outputting an audio whose output mode is changed according to biological information detected by the information detecting device from the audio output device,
Temporarily storing the left and right biological information of the living body detected by the biological information detecting device in a storage device included in the computer device;
Calculating a difference between left and right biological information temporarily stored in the storage device, and temporarily storing the calculated difference in the storage device;
Changing the sound pressure of each of the left and right sounds generated and output from the sound output device by the sound signal generation device included in the computer device according to the difference temporarily stored in the storage device. It is made to perform.

  Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

  FIG. 1 is a block diagram showing a circuit configuration of the biofeedback device according to this embodiment. As shown in the figure, this biofeedback device is composed of a pair of left and right temperature sensors 11L and 11R, a differential amplifier circuit 12, an audio reproduction circuit 13, a speaker control circuit 14, and a pair of left and right speakers 15L and 15R. Is done. The speakers 15L and 15R can be, for example, speakers used on the left and right of the headphones, and output sound to the left and right ears of the subject 10, respectively.

  The temperature sensors 11L and 11R detect the temperature of the left and right palms of the subject (for example, a patient who is treating psychosomatic disease), respectively, and output a signal of a level corresponding to the detected temperature to the differential amplifier circuit 12. . The differential amplifier circuit 12 has a level corresponding to the level difference between the signals input from the temperature sensors 11L and 11R (eg, positive when the temperature of the left palm is high and negative when the temperature of the right palm is high). (That is, a signal corresponding to the temperature difference between the right and left palms of the subject 10) is output to the sound reproduction circuit 13 and the speaker control circuit 14.

  The audio reproduction circuit 13 reproduces an audio signal at a volume level corresponding to the level of the signal input from the differential amplifier circuit 12 and outputs the audio signal to the speaker control circuit 14. As the volume level of the reproduced audio signal increases, the sound pressure of the sound output from the speaker 15L or 15R increases. Note that the sound reproduced by the sound reproduction circuit 13 can be, for example, music selected with a relatively small change in sound level and suitable for the treatment of psychosomatic disorders.

  The speaker control circuit 14 turns on the output of the audio signal to one of the speakers 15L and 15R according to the level of the signal input from the differential amplifier circuit 12, and turns off the output of the audio signal to the other. For example, when the temperature of the left palm of the subject 10 is higher than the temperature of the right palm, the signal input from the differential amplifier circuit 12 is at a positive level. At this time, the output of the audio signal to the left speaker 15L is Turned on. However, when the level of the signal output from the differential amplifier circuit 12 is 0, that is, when there is no difference in the temperature of the left and right palms of the subject 10, the output of the audio signal to both the speakers 15L and 15R is turned off. .

  The speaker control circuit 14 also outputs the audio signal reproduced by the audio reproduction circuit 13 to the speaker 15L, 15R for which the output of the audio signal is turned on, and the speaker control circuit 14 corresponds to the speaker 15L, 15R. To output sound. That is, the sound whose sound pressure is controlled according to the temperature difference between the left and right is output from one of the speakers 15L and 15R corresponding to the higher temperature of the left and right palms of the subject 10.

  Next, the operation of this biofeedback device will be described. When there is a difference between the temperature of the left palm and the temperature of the right palm of the subject 10, sound is output at a volume level corresponding to the temperature difference from the speakers 15L and 15R corresponding to the higher one. . For example, if the left speaker 15L is outputting sound and the subject 10 is conscious of the left half (including the left palm), the volume level of the sound output from the speaker 15L decreases. In other words, the subject tends to have a lower body temperature of the left and right conscious persons (or a higher body temperature of the unconscious person).

  If the sound is output from the left speaker 15L and the volume level is reduced when the consciousness is directed to the left half, the consciousness is directed to the left half while the sound is still being output from the left speaker 15L. If so, it is considered that the difference in body temperature between the left and right is further reduced, so the subject 10 may continue this state. When the difference between the left and right body temperature is reduced, the volume level of the sound output from the left speaker 15L further decreases.

  If no sound is output from the left speaker 15L and no sound is output from the left and right speakers 15L and 15R, the temperature difference between the left palm and the right palm is 0 degrees. The autonomous training that consciously raises and lowers the temperature difference between the left and right palms of the subject 10 can be achieved. Next, the specific example of the autonomous training which such a test subject performed using the biofeedback apparatus concerning this embodiment is demonstrated.

  As an initial state, it is assumed that the temperature of the left palm of the subject 10 detected by the temperature sensor 11L is 36.8 degrees and the temperature of the right palm detected by the temperature sensor 11R is 36.5 degrees. Further, for example, it is assumed that the volume level of sound output with a temperature difference of 0.1 degrees is 1. Here, a signal having a level corresponding to a temperature difference of 0.3 degrees between the right and left palms is output from the differential amplifier circuit 12, and an audio signal is reproduced by the audio reproduction circuit 13 at a volume level 3. Since the 12 output signals are at the positive level, the speaker 15L is turned on. In this way, the sound of volume level 3 is output from the left speaker 15L and reaches the left ear of the subject 10.

  When the subject 10 receives the sound output from the speaker 15L and is conscious of the left half, the temperature of the left palm detected by the temperature sensor 11L is lowered to 36.7 degrees. On the other hand, it is assumed that the temperature of the right palm detected by the temperature sensor 11R remains at 36.5 degrees. Here, a signal of a level corresponding to a temperature difference of 0.2 degrees between the left and right palms is output from the differential amplifier circuit 12, and an audio signal is reproduced by the audio reproduction circuit 13 at a volume level 2, and the speaker 15L is turned on. Is done. In this way, sound of volume level 2 is output from the left speaker 15L and reaches the left ear of the subject 10.

  Although the level of the sound output from the speaker 15L has decreased, the sound continues to be output from the left speaker 15L, so the subject 10 continues to focus on the left half. Thus, when the subject 10 keeps his consciousness toward the left half of the body, the temperature of the left palm detected by the temperature sensor 11L is lowered to 36.5 degrees. On the other hand, it is assumed that the temperature of the right palm detected by the temperature sensor 11R remains at 36.5 degrees.

  In this case, the audio reproduction circuit 13 reproduces the audio signal at level 0 corresponding to the temperature difference of 0 degrees between the left and right palms, in other words, does not reproduce the audio signal. Further, since the level of the output signal of the differential amplifier circuit 12 is 0, both the speakers 15L and 15R are turned OFF, and no sound reaches the left ear or the right ear of the subject 10. At this time, the temperature difference between the left and right of the subject 10 disappears, and the temperature difference between the left and right can be consciously set to 0 degrees.

  Thereafter, it is assumed that the temperature of the left palm detected by the temperature sensor 11L remains 36.5 degrees and the temperature of the right palm detected by the temperature sensor 11R has increased to 36.6 degrees. Here, a signal of a level corresponding to the temperature difference between the left and right palms of −0.1 degrees is output from the differential amplifier circuit 12, and an audio signal is reproduced at the sound volume level 1 by the audio reproduction circuit 13 and differential amplification is performed. Since the level of the output signal of the circuit 12 is negative, the speaker 15R is turned on. In this way, the sound of volume level 1 is output from the right speaker 15R and reaches the right ear of the subject 10.

  In this case, if the subject 10 is now conscious of the right half corresponding to the speaker 15R to which sound is output, the temperature of the right palm will decrease, and the left and right speakers 15L, It is only necessary to keep consciousness toward the right half until no sound is output from 15R.

  In the above description, the temperature of the palm of the subject 10 toward the consciousness is lowered (or consciousness) by directing the consciousness to the half corresponding to the subject 10 to which the sound is output from the speakers 15L and 15R. The temperature of the palm on the side not facing up increased), and the difference in body temperature between the left and right was to be resolved. However, in the case of the subject 10 in which the level of the sound output by lowering the consciousness to the right half body when the sound is output from the left speaker 15L, the speaker from which the sound is output. It is only necessary to perform autonomous training in which the consciousness is directed to the half body opposite to the direction of 15L and 15R.

  A subject with palmar hyperhidrosis considered to be a kind of psychosomatic disorder was used as the test subject 10, and the above-mentioned biofeedback device was actually used for the treatment of the hyperhidrosis, and the effect was verified. In this case, the test subject 10 was remarkably cautious, vice-versa, bloody, and stagnant in Kampo diagnosis, had a high blood-blood water score of 111 points, and was so severe that sweat was dripping from the hand. A patient with sweating. This patient had been undergoing Hochuekkito therapy for half a year before treatment using the biofeedback device described above. As a result of Hochuekkito therapy, the blood-blood water score decreased to 59 points and the sweating of the palm was considerably improved, but the hyperhidrosis was not completely cured.

  The patient was instructed to use the biofeedback device to do 3 times a day at home for 2 minutes. This hyperhidrosis patient subject 10 was able to easily raise and lower the temperature difference between the left and right palms using the biofeedback device, and to set the temperature difference to 0 degrees. As a result of continuing such training for one month, an improvement was seen in the temperature difference between the left and right palms at times other than during training, and sweating from the palms was suppressed to a considerable extent.

  As described above, according to the biofeedback device of this embodiment, the temperature of the left and right palms of the subject 10 is detected, and the sound of the volume level corresponding to the temperature difference is output from the body temperature of the speakers 15L and 15R. Output from the one corresponding to the higher one. For example, when the sound is output from the left speaker 15L, the subject 10 turns his consciousness toward the left half. At this time, if the temperature of the left palm decreases, the temperature difference from the right palm decreases and the volume level of the sound output from the speaker 15L decreases. Conversely, if the volume level decreases, the difference in body temperature between the left palm and the right palm decreases.

  If the sound level is low when the left speaker 15L is outputting sound and the volume level is reduced, turn the awareness to the left half until no sound is output from either speaker 15L or 15R. Just keep going. In this way, by performing autonomous training to turn the consciousness toward the left or right body according to the sound output from the speakers 15L and 15R, the temperature difference between the left and right of the subject 10 is intentionally raised and lowered to eliminate the temperature difference Can be made. Since the autonomous training is performed according to which of the left speaker 15 and the right speaker 15R is outputting sound, it is very easy to implement. The biofeedback device can easily perform skin temperature biofeedback therapy, and is effective in the treatment of psychosomatic disorders and the like.

  Here, in the biofeedback device, only the body temperature of the right and left palms is necessary as the biological information of the subject 10, and only the pair of left and right temperature sensors 11L and 11R are necessary for detecting this. . Further, the information given to the subject 10 by biofeedback is only the sound that reaches the left and right ears, and the only configuration necessary to give this to the subject 10 is the pair of left and right speakers 15L and 15R. Further, the circuits necessary from the detection of body temperature to the output of sound are the differential amplifier circuit 12, the sound reproduction circuit 13 that reproduces sound while adjusting the sound level, and the sound output to the speakers 15L and 15R. Only the speaker control circuit 14 for turning ON / OFF the signal. These are all realized by an apparatus having a relatively simple configuration.

  As described above, the biofeedback device can be manufactured in a small size and at low cost because it is configured by collecting only devices having a relatively simple configuration. Also, when using the biofeedback device, if the temperature sensors 11L and 11R are correctly attached to the left and right palms, and the speakers 15L and 15R are correctly applied to the left and right ears, then the power of the device is turned on. Just put it in and start it. For this reason, even a person with poor technical knowledge can easily use it. For example, a patient with psychosomatic disease is also very suitable for use in treatment at home. Furthermore, since the biofeedback device can be reduced in size, it can be used not only for treatment at home but also for patients with psychosomatic disease at the destination.

  Furthermore, audio is not simultaneously output from both the speakers 15L and 15R, and audio is output from only one at a time. For this reason, it is not necessary for the audio reproduction circuit 13 to have a function of controlling the volume level separately on the left and right sides, and a simpler device configuration can be achieved. Since the sound is output from only one of the speakers 15L and 15R at a time, the subject 10 has a higher temperature in either the left palm or the right palm, and therefore the autonomous training is conducted with the consciousness directed to either the left half or the right half. You will be able to easily determine if you should do it.

  On the other hand, even if sound is output only from one of the speakers 15L and 15R at a time, the volume level of the output sound can be changed according to the temperature difference between the left and right palms of the subject 10. That is, as the volume level of the output voice is larger, the temperature difference between the left and right is larger, and it can be easily determined that the consciousness should be more strongly directed to either the left half or the right half. For this reason, the autonomous training which intentionally raises and lowers the body temperature of the subject 10 can be easily performed.

  Further, in the biofeedback device according to this embodiment, the volume level (that is, sound pressure) of the sound output from the speakers 15L and 15R is changed, so that the output sound has a change in pitch. May be. That is, the subject 10 can perform the biofeedback treatment while listening to music, and does not feel bored while performing the biofeedback treatment.

  The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and various modifications and applications are possible. Hereinafter, modifications of the above-described embodiment applicable to the present invention will be described.

  In the above embodiment, the sound is output from the speaker 15L, 15R corresponding to the one having the higher temperature detected by the temperature sensors 11L, 11R, but the detected temperature is corresponding to the lower one. You may make it output a sound from what does. That is, even in such a case, when the sound volume level is increased by turning the left speaker 15L when the sound is output from the left speaker 15L, the subject recognizes that the temperature difference between the left and right has opened. Because it can. This is because the sound output from the speakers 15L and 15R of the biofeedback device does not directly act on the living body of the subject 10, but assists the autonomous training of the subject 10 to the last.

  In the above embodiment, only one of the speakers 15L and 15R is turned on (or both are turned off) according to the temperature difference between the left and right palms of the subject 10 detected by the temperature sensors 11L and 11R. The volume level of the output voice is controlled according to the temperature difference between the left and right palms. However, even if it does not have a function for controlling the volume level of the sound to be output, it is possible to output sound only from the speakers 15L and 15R corresponding to the one with the higher palm temperature (or the lower one). The effect of can be obtained.

  In addition, as long as the sound reproduction circuit 13 has a function of controlling the volume level of the sound output separately on the left and right, the sound may be always output from both the speakers 15L and 15R. In this case, for example, the volume level of the sound output from the speaker corresponding to the lower palm of the speakers 15L and 15R is set as the default level, and the sound output from the speaker corresponding to the higher palm is used. The volume level may be changed according to the body temperature difference. Further, for example, the volume level of the sound output from the left speaker 15L may be always constant, and only the volume level of the sound output from the right speaker 15L may be changed. Here, the volume level of the sound output from the right speaker 15R is the same if the temperature of the right and left palms is the same, and the volume level of the sound output from the left speaker 15L if the temperature of the right palm is higher. If the temperature of the left palm is lower, the volume level of the sound output from the left speaker 15L may be set higher.

  In the above embodiment, audio data of music is reproduced by the audio reproduction circuit 13 and output from either the speaker 15L or 15R. However, the type of sound to be output is not limited to this, and for example, an oscillation circuit may be provided instead of the sound reproduction circuit 13 to generate sound. Further, instead of changing the sound volume level according to the temperature difference between the left palm and the right palm, the frequency may be changed. It is good also as what gives other information separately with respect to the test subject 10 with the output of an audio | voice. For example, when the temperature of the left palm is higher than that of the right palm, the left side of the pair of left and right lamps may be lit.

  In the above embodiment, when the temperature difference between the left palm and the right palm becomes 0, control is performed so that no sound is output from the left speaker 15L or the right speaker 15R. On the other hand, for example, when the temperature difference between the left and right palms becomes a specific temperature difference, no sound may be output from any of the speakers 15L and 15R. Here, for example, when the temperature difference between the left and right palms is +1 degree (+ means that the left side is higher), the audio is not output from the speakers 15L and 15R. When the palm temperature difference is +2 degrees, sound can be output from the left speaker 15L, and when it is 0 degrees, the sound can be output from the right speaker 15R, and the difference from the reference +1 degree is the same. The sound level of the sound output in each case is the same.

  In this case, the subject 10 also performs training to bring the temperature difference between the left and right palms consciously to a specific temperature by performing autonomous training so that no sound is output from either of the speakers 15L and 15R. be able to. Note that the differential amplifier circuit 12 may be controlled so that the temperature difference between the left and right palms at which no sound is output from either of the speakers 15L and 15R is variable. That is, the differential amplifier circuit 12 further receives a signal generated by a reference signal generation circuit that generates a signal corresponding to a reference temperature difference preset by the subject 10, and a signal corresponding to the temperature difference between the left and right palms and a reference A difference with a signal corresponding to the temperature difference is obtained, and a signal according to the difference can be output to the sound reproduction circuit 13 and the speaker control circuit 14.

  The skin temperature biofeedback therapy is not limited to the one that intentionally raises and lowers the temperature of the left and right palms so that the temperature difference becomes 0 degrees as shown in the above embodiment. For example, autonomous training may be performed in which the temperature difference between the left and right palms is +2 degrees or -2 degrees. In this way, autonomous training that intentionally creates a temperature difference between the left and right palms is also a biofeedback therapy that eliminates the temperature difference between the left and right palms and treats psychosomatic disorders such as hyperhidrosis. Is known as.

  By adding the configuration shown in this modification, the subject 10 can easily perform autonomous training for intentionally raising and lowering the temperature difference between the left and right palms so that a predetermined temperature difference is generated. become. In this case, the subject 10 can set the reference signal generation circuit so that the reference signal generation circuit generates a signal corresponding to the reference temperature difference between the left and right palms before performing the autonomous training. That's fine.

  In the above embodiment, the temperature sensors 11L and 11R are attached to the left and right palms of the subject 10, respectively. However, if they are attached symmetrically, other parts (for example, left and right ears) It is good also as what attaches to. In addition, the biological information of the subject 10 necessary for performing the biofeedback therapy using the biofeedback device is not limited to the body temperature, and other information such as the amount of sweating as long as it shows different states on the left and right. It may be. When applying biological information other than body temperature, a pair of left and right sensors corresponding to the applied biological information may be used instead of the temperature sensors 11L and 11R.

  In the above embodiment, the case where the biofeedback device according to the present invention is realized by a circuit configured by hardware has been described as an example. However, a computer device connected to the temperature sensors 11L and 11R for detecting the temperature of the left and right palms of the subject 10 via an A / D converter and connected to the speakers 15L and 15R via the D / A converter is used. Thus, the function of the biofeedback device described above can be realized by software.

  Such a computer apparatus includes a CPU and a memory used as a work area while storing a program for executing processing shown in a flowchart described later, and sequentially reads out and reproduces audio data stored in the memory. As long as it has a function, it may be a general-purpose computer or a dedicated computer. A mobile phone can be applied as a computer device in this case as long as it has a function of outputting audio in stereo.

  FIG. 2 is a flowchart showing processing executed in such a computer apparatus. The process of this flowchart can be started by a timer interrupt that occurs every predetermined time, for example.

  When the processing starts, the CPU temporarily stores numerical data corresponding to the temperature of the left and right palms detected by the connected temperature sensors 11L and 11R and converted by the A / D converter in a predetermined area of the memory. Store (step S101). Next, the CPU calculates difference data between the numerical data corresponding to the temperature of the left palm stored in step S101 and the numerical data corresponding to the temperature of the right palm, and temporarily stores it in a predetermined area of the memory. (Step S102).

  Next, the CPU turns on or off the left speaker 15L and the right speaker 15R according to the sign of the calculated difference data (step S103). Thereafter, the CPU sequentially reads the audio data from the memory, and reproduces the audio signal at an audio level corresponding to the absolute value of the difference data calculated based on the read audio data (step S104). The reproduction of the audio signal is continuously performed until the next timer interruption occurs.

  Even when the function of the biofeedback device of the present invention is realized by software, various modifications in the case of realizing by hardware can be applied as they are. In addition, a program for executing the above-described processing is recorded and distributed on a recording medium readable by the computer device or distributed from a server device existing on the Internet, depending on the form of the computer device to be applied. It can be distributed by downloading.

It is a block diagram which shows the circuit structure of the biofeedback apparatus concerning embodiment of this invention. It is a flowchart which shows the process in the biofeedback apparatus concerning the modification of this invention.

Explanation of symbols

11L, 11R Temperature sensor 12 Differential amplifier circuit 13 Audio reproduction circuit 14 Speaker control circuit 15L, 15R Speaker

Claims (6)

A biofeedback device that outputs to a living body a sound whose output mode is changed according to living body information detected from the living body,
A biometric information detection unit configured by a left side detection unit that detects biometric information from the left side of the living body and a right side detection unit that detects biometric information from the right side of the living body;
Biometric information difference calculating means for calculating a difference between the biometric information detected by the left detecting means and the biometric information detected by the right detecting means;
Audio output means comprising left output means for outputting sound to the left side of the living body, and right output means for outputting sound to the right side of the living body;
Voice output control means for changing sound pressures of voices respectively output from the left output means and the right output means in accordance with the difference between the biometric information calculated by the biometric information difference calculating means. Biofeedback device. The biofeedback device according to claim 1, wherein the biological information detection unit detects the body temperature of the living body as biological information of the living body. The voice output control means is a voice output corresponding to a higher one of the left and right body temperatures of the living body detected by the left detection means and the right detection means of the left output means and the right output means. The biofeedback apparatus according to claim 2, wherein sound is output only from the means. The sound output control means calculates the sound pressure of the sound output from the sound output means corresponding to the higher body temperature of the living body according to the difference between the left and right body temperatures of the living body calculated by the living body information difference calculating means. The biofeedback device according to claim 3, wherein the biofeedback device is changed. Reference information generating means for generating reference information serving as a reference as a difference between the biological information on the left side and the biological information on the right side of the living body,
The biometric information difference calculating unit calculates a difference between the biometric information detected by the left side detecting unit and the biometric information detected by the right side detecting unit, and further, the difference information of the biometric information and the reference information generating unit The biofeedback device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein a difference from the reference information generated is calculated. Executed in a computer device connected to a pair of left and right biological information detection devices for detecting biological information from the left and right sides of the living body and a pair of left and right audio output devices for outputting sounds to the left and right sides of the living body, respectively, A program for generating an audio signal for outputting an audio whose output mode is changed according to biological information detected by the information detecting device from the audio output device,
Temporarily storing the left and right biological information of the living body detected by the biological information detecting device in a storage device included in the computer device;
Calculating a difference between left and right biological information temporarily stored in the storage device, and temporarily storing the calculated difference in the storage device;
Changing the sound pressure of each of the left and right sounds generated and output from the sound output device by the sound signal generation device included in the computer device according to the difference temporarily stored in the storage device. A program characterized by being executed.

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