JPH0226534A - Biofeedback device - Google Patents

Abstract

PURPOSE:To lightly recover the balance of mind and body and to draw out latent talent by providing an electrode for fetching an electric signal similar to a brain wave from a temple or the vicinity to a headphone fixing jig. CONSTITUTION:A biofeedback device is equipped with two electrodes 10 and 10 for fetching the electric signal similar to the brain wave from the temple or the vicinity to a fixing jig 12. The fixing jig 12 is similar to the headphone to utilize the principle of a spring. The fixing jig 12 is additionally equipped with a grounding 11, and the electrode 10 is connected to the biofeedback device by a connecting cord 13.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION [Industrial Application Field] The present invention relates to a biofeedback device that is used to detect alpha waves in brain waves, restore mental and physical balance, and bring out latent abilities.

[Conventional technology]

With conventional biofeedback devices, users wear a band with electrodes around their foreheads, which allows them to memorize the state of alpha waves, which helps them restore their mental and physical balance and bring out their potential.

A conventional biofeedback device will be explained in more detail from the device side using FIG. 2 as follows. In other words, the conventional biofeedback device uses an amplifier 2 to amplify a weak electrical signal collected from an electrode wrapped around the forehead, then removes unnecessary noise with a filter 3, and then extracts the necessary frequency from the electrical signal obtained there. It is sent to a frequency selector 4 consisting of a plurality of band-pass filters that selects only the components, for example, three components (components below 8H, 8H,
It is separated into α wave components of ~13 Hz and components of 13 Hz or higher). 5 is a control unit that processes data according to the strength of the selected frequency component and supplies electrical signals to the output device in the required form; 6 to 9 are output devices having various output forms; 7 is a speaker, 8 is a cassette controller, and 9 is a printer. When an alpha wave component is detected, a lamp is lit, a sound is made, a counter is activated, a relay is activated, and the tape begins to move, making the user aware that alpha waves are being produced. , have them learn the tricks to emitting alpha waves.

Repeated training of this kind has the effect of restoring the balance of the mind and body and bringing out one's potential.

In addition, conventional biofeedback devices such as (1) Balance Meter (I Life ■), (2) Bio Pit (■Kinkasha), and (3) Alphata (■Ability Development Research Institute) are already on the market, and are remarkable. It's working.

[Problem to be solved by the invention]

However, in the above-mentioned conventional technology, the user wraps a band with electrodes around the forehead and receives electrical signals similar to brain waves from the forehead, which causes the following problems.

(1) When you blink, muscle currents are generated, which generate electrical signals unrelated to brain waves. The electrical signal is strongly detected at the forehead. Therefore, noise is so large that it cannot be ignored compared to the desired electrical signal. Therefore, even if the user is in a state of relaxation and alpha waves are being emitted, when the user blinks, the alpha waves are emitted. The warning sound may stop, or a message indicating a nervous state may appear, disrupting the user's relaxed state and preventing him or her from training with peace of mind.

(2) The act of ``wrapping a band around the forehead'' or the words ``measuring brain waves'' creates a psychological pressure on the user and prevents them from training honestly.

Therefore, the aforementioned effects may be diminished, and some people may refuse training.

(3) For example, even if you want to train on the train on your way to work or school, it's embarrassing to wear a band around your forehead, so you can't do it just by thinking about it.

(4) If you wrap the band around your forehead, your makeup will come off, making it difficult for women of the appropriate age to train.

The present invention was made to solve these problems, and its purpose is to provide a biofeedback device that can easily restore mental and physical balance and bring out one's potential anytime and anywhere.

[Means to solve the problem]

The biofeedback device of the present invention is characterized in that a headphone-like fixing jig is equipped with an electrode for taking in electrical signals similar to brain waves from the temple and its vicinity, and the fixing jig is equipped with an electrode and a headphone-like fixing jig. It is characterized in that the sound generating means is integrally formed.

[Effect]

The biofeedback device configured as described above is
Since the headphone-like fixture is equipped with electrodes that capture electrical signals similar to brain waves from the temple and its vicinity, the user does not need to wrap a band with electrodes around the forehead and can listen to radio etc. The above-mentioned disadvantages can be removed because it appears to be the case.

〔Example〕

Hereinafter, the present invention will be described in detail based on Examples. However, the present invention is not limited to the following examples.

[Example 1] Fig. 1 shows an external view of the biofeedback device of the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, the biofeedback device of this embodiment includes two electrodes 10, 10 on the fixture 12 for taking in electrical signals similar to brain waves from the temple and its vicinity. Further, in order to be able to securely fix the device at the temple and its vicinity, it is attached to a fixing jig 12 similar to headphones that utilizes the principle of a spring. The fixing jig 12 is additionally equipped with a ground 11 and is connected to the biofeedback device via a connecting cord 13.

In this embodiment, the above-mentioned headphone-shaped fixing jig is used as a fixing means to the temple and its vicinity, but other fixing means may be used as long as it can be properly fixed. In addition, although the clip shape is used to make it easier to connect to the ground from anywhere, it is of course possible to use other shapes.

In this way, the biofeedback device of the present invention differs from conventional biofeedback devices in that it collects electrical signals similar to brain waves not from the forehead but from the temple and its vicinity. It was confirmed that it has the following effect.

First, attach electrodes to the forehead and temples of the subject, then take the ground from the earlobe, and connect each electrode to the ground for 8 to 13 hours.
Only the frequency component of z was extracted and compared. FIG. 3 shows the results of examining the correlation between the signal intensity from the forehead and the signal intensity from the temple in various physiological states. As can be seen from the figure, there was a good correlation between state A of irritability during activities and days of relaxation and concentration of thoughts.

The same result was obtained when examining other frequency components.

Furthermore, when the biofeedback device of the present invention was actually used for the above purpose, it had the same remarkable effects as when the conventional biofeedback device was used.

Furthermore, since the biofeedback device of the present invention does not require the user to use a band with electrodes wrapped around the forehead, it was confirmed that the biofeedback device of the present invention is superior to conventional biofeedback devices by eliminating the following problems. .

(1) FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the output state from the biofeedback device, where (a) shows the output state of the embodiment L, and (b) shows the output state of the conventional example. As shown in the figure, even when the user is relaxed and alpha waves are emitted, M
When you blink with +, Mz, or M*, the sound indicating alpha waves stops or an indication of a nervous state appears. As a result, the user's relaxed state is disrupted, which prevents him/her from training with peace of mind.

(2) The act of ``wrapping a band around the forehead'' or the words ``measuring brain waves'' creates a psychological pressure on the user and prevents them from training honestly. Therefore, the aforementioned effects may fade, and some people may refuse training.

(3) For example, even if you want to train on the train on your way to work or school, it's embarrassing to wear a band around your forehead, so you end up not doing it just because you think about it.

(4) If you wrap the band around your forehead, your makeup will come off, making it difficult for women of appropriate age to train.

[Example 2] FIG. 5 shows an external view of a biofeedback device in Example 2 of the present invention. As can be seen from the figure, the biofeedback device of Example 2 integrates the functions of a biofeedback device and a head-on stereo.

The biofeedback device of Example 2 had the effects shown below in addition to the effects of the biofeedback device of Example 1. In other words, the earphones (or headphones), which are connected to the main body 15 of the biofeedback device and are the fixing jig 14 for the electrodes, emit pleasant music, pleasant sound effects, or encouraging messages, and also tell you what kind of brain waves are currently being emitted. Because it can also emit a sound to let you know if someone is present, the synergistic effect of this device was significantly greater than that of conventional biofeedback devices in restoring your physical and mental balance and bringing out your potential.

In Example 2, the functions of a biofeedback device and a head-on stereo are integrated, but in order to produce the same effect, the device that is integrated with the biofeedback device is not limited to the head-on stereo. It may be integrated with other audio generating means such as a radio cassette player or CD player DAT, but is not limited to these.

〔Effect of the invention〕

Since the biofeedback device of the present invention is equipped with electrodes in a headphone-like fixture for receiving electrical signals similar to brain waves from the temple and the vicinity of the temple, the user can wrap the band with the electrodes around the forehead. Since there is no need to use it, it has the effect of eliminating the above-mentioned disadvantages.

[Brief explanation of the drawing]

FIG. 1 is a diagram showing an electrode fixing jig of a biofeedback device in Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a configuration diagram of a conventional biofeedback device. FIG. 3 is a diagram showing the correlation between signal intensities taken from the forehead and temple of the biofeedback device in Example 1 of the present invention. FIG. 4 is a diagram showing the output state of the biofeedback device, and (a) is a diagram showing the output state of the biofeedback device. (b) shows the conventional output. FIG. 5 shows a biofeedback device in Example 2 of the present invention. 1.10... Electrode 2... Amplifier 3... Filter 4... Frequency selector 5... Control section 6... Display section 7... Speaker... Cassette controller... Printer ...Earth, 14...Fixing jig...Connection cord...Main body and above Applicant: Seiko Epson Co., Ltd. Representative Patent Attorney Kizobe Suzuki and 1 other person (D Beni n-*, T Tsukasa ζzu Mufuku (P-)'' Da H makeup)

Claims (2)

[Claims] (1) In a biofeedback device that detects alpha waves in brain waves, restores mental and physical balance, and brings out latent abilities, electrodes are installed in a headphone-like fixture to capture electrical signals similar to brain waves from the temple and its vicinity. A biofeedback device characterized by: (2) The biofeedback device according to claim 1, wherein the electrode and the sound generating means are integrated into the fixing jig.