WO2014021776A1

WO2014021776A1 - Whole brain activation

Info

Publication number: WO2014021776A1
Application number: PCT/SG2012/000279
Authority: WO
Inventors: Hung Koon Edmond CHUA; Wee Ming LIM
Original assignee: Wba Pte Ltd
Priority date: 2012-08-03
Filing date: 2012-08-03
Publication date: 2014-02-06

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to activation of the whole brain including the right brain left brain, and midbrain. The activation can produce flexibility in the ability of the brain to move between states of brain wave oscillation such as alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta neural oscillations. Whole brain activation can also cause the right brain and left brain to operate in equilibrium. Whole brain activation is achieved through the use of a sequence of activities and demonstrated by the performance of tasks while blindfolded.

Description

WHOLE BRAIN ACTIVATION

technical Field

rhe present disclosurejelates to methods of activating the brain, specifically the right, eft; and midbrain, to enhance sensory perception and motor control. background

The human brain is divided into two cerebral hemispheres, the left brain and right brain, vhich are connected by the corpus callosum. The brain exhibits a lateral dominance vith regard to certain functions. For example, the phenomena of a dominant hand "handedness") may demonstrate dominance of the opposite side of the brain. The :orpus callosum connects the halves of the brain allowing for communication between he hemispheres.

^"he corpus callosum is connected to the midbrain, a portion of the brainstem present in nost vertebrates. Although it is the smallest region in the brain, it is associated with ensory perception, thermal regulation, arousal, and sleep/wake cycles. It is especially issociated with the relay of auditory and visual information, and production of lopamine. It is also the portion of the brain that remains active even when the human orebrain shuts down, such as during exposure to extreme stress or high levels of idrenaline. tesponse' to positive and negative stimuli is also controlled, at least in part by the nidbrain, specifically the firing of dopaminergic neurons in a manner that codes for irrors in reward prediction and indexes the degree to which behavior should be altered, ^'hese neurons of the midbrain have also been identified as responding to feedback- Iriven classification learning, categorization and concept formation. The midbrain is ilso highly active in cases where the outcome of a decision is uncertain, by determining irediction error. Seemingly unintentional responses to stimuli such as drugs, taste, )eauty; and rewards such as money train are initiated and predicted by the midbrain to >e rewarding. ntentional training of the midbrain to respond to stimuli utilizing sensory perceptions ind decision making ability in uncertain situations, or during exposure to high levels of tress,- has been used to train adults in, for example, the military, or through liofeedback. However, stimulating and training the midbrains of children, who are ;enerally more pliable, has yet to be fully undertaken. A method for training the whole >rain, in a manner that emphasizes the mid-brain and encourages greater ommunication between hemispheres, is needed. ummary

n some aspects, the present disclosure includes a method of training the midbrain icluding relaxing the body of a human; verbally suggesting mental images to said luman; exposing said human to auditory stimulation designed to induce one or more of Ipha, beta/gamma, delta, and theta neural oscillations, and testing said human. he present disclosure also provides a system for inducing midbrain activation including n activity; a movie; a leader; a musical selection; and a test. he disclosure also provides a kit for midbrain activation including a relaxation tool; a lotivational movie; a resting mat; an mp3 player with frequency music; a blindfold; and task. he foregoing summary is illustrative only and is not intended to be in any way limiting. 1 addition to the illustrative aspects, embodiments, and features will become apparent y reference to the drawings and the following detailed description. detailed Description n the following detailed description, illustrative embodiments described in the detailed lescription, and claims !are not meant to be limiting. Other embodiments may be itilized, and other changes may be made, without departing from the spirit or scope of he subject matter presented herein.

^"he present disclosure relates to a method of training the whole brain. In accordance i ith the method of the disclosure, training the whole brain includes: relaxing the body if a human; verbally suggesting mental images; exposing the human to auditory timulation designed to induce one or more of alpha, beta, delta, theta, and gamma leural oscillations; and testing the human. In accordance with the present disclosure, Ipha neural oscillations represent a state of relaxed mental awareness or reflection and re associated with contemplation, visualization, problem-solving, and accessing deeper .vels of creativity; beta neural oscillations are represent a heightened state of alertness nd focused concentration and are associated with active conversation, playing sports, nd the like; delta neural oscillations are associated with dreamless sleep and healing; heta waves are associated with deep relaxation, meditation, enhanced creativity, tress-relief, light sleep and dreaming; and gamma neural oscillations are associated i ith intense focus and peak concentration.

1 accordance with the present disclosure, the terms "training the whole brain", "whole irain activation", and "whole brain stimulation" can be used interchangeably and refer o balancing and/or simultaneous activation of the left and right brain via the midbrain s determined by blindfolded visualization or extra sensory perception. When the /hole brain is activated, a person can perform tasks or pass tests while blindfolded such s, for example, reading a book, completing a puzzle, drawing, coloring, accurately electing the color of objects or pictures they are presented with, completing lathematical equations, walking through obstacle courses unaided, and the like, and ombinations of these. Vhole brain activation, in; accordance with the present disclosure allows the right and 5ft, brain to operate in equilibrium and increases brain flexibility, i.e., the ability of the irain to move seamlessly from one state of neural oscillations to another.

Vhole brain activation in accordance with the present disclosure is suitable for humans if any age. In some embodiments, the human can be from about 3 years old to about .20 years old. In some embodiments, the human can be a child. In some embodiments, he child can be from about 3 years old to about 12 years old. In some embodiments, he child can be from about 6 years old to about 10 years old. raining of the whole brain in accordance with the present disclosure can include elaxing. Relaxing can be relaxing the body and/or relaxing the mind. Relaxing of the ody of a human can be, for example, playing games such as Simon Says, dog and bone, reathing exercises, other ice-breaking games, singing, dancing, eye exercises, drinkingater, warming up the body with dancing, cheering, other physical exercise and the like, nd combinations of these. iter relaxing, in some embodi ments, the training of the whole brain can include ffirming abilities. Affirming abilities can include, for example, watching motivational lovies for example clips on Dick and Rick Hoyt, Ben Underwood, Derek Redmond, and lick Vujicic, role playing, watching movies of others performing tasks or tests uccessfully while blindfolded, and the like, and combinations of these. Role playing can iclude, for example, pretending to be a person engaged in a specific profession such as, 3r example, a fireman, a doctor, a veterinarian, and the like. l some embodiments, after relaxing and/or after affirming abilities, the method can iclude verbally suggesting mental images to the human. Suggesting mental images can e in the form of visualization or guided meditation. In embodiments, the human may e laying down while undergoing suggestion of mental images. In some embodiments, he mental images may relate to the type of relaxing or affirming of abilities preceding he suggestion of mental images. In some embodiments, the mental images can relate o role playing. In some embodiments, higher senses can be engaged. In some imbodiments, mental images can include a specific task, such as, for example, isualizing cutting a lemon, imagining walking into a forest, visualizing flowers, clouds, lirds, visualizing being on a beach, different shapes, visualizing changing colors and sizes if shapes, and the like, and combinations of these. he step of suggesting mental images can be alternated with, come before, follow, or be onducted simultaneously with exposing the human to auditory stimulation designed to iduce one or more of alpha, beta, and mu neural oscillations. Alpha neural oscillations an have a frequency of from about 8 to about 12 Hz and are present during relaxed lental states. Beta neural oscillations can have a frequency of from about 12 to about 0 Hz and are often associated with normal waking consciousness. Delta neural scillations can have a frequency of about 1 to 4 Hz. Theta neural oscillations can have a 'equency of about 4 to about 8 Hz. Gamma neural oscillations can have a frequency of bout 30 to 70 Hz. The auditory stimulation can last from about 15 minutes to about 1 our. In embodiments, the auditory stimulation can last from about 20 minutes to bout 40 minutes. In embodiments, the auditory stimulation can include sounds of the ainforest, sounds of bells, waves, raindrops, birds, waterfalls, other sounds of nature, nd the like, and combinations of these. In some embodiments, the auditory timulation can induce neural oscillations (commonly called brain waves) at a frequency f from about 3 Hz to about 14.1 Hz. In some embodiments, the auditory stimulation an include guided narration. he method further includes testing/evaluation/activation of the human. Testing can ldiide blindfolding the human and having him or her complete a task, such as, for xample, reading a book, completing a puzzle, drawing, coloring, accurately selecting ie color/object depicted in a pictures they are presented with but cannot see, ompleting mathematical equations, walking through obstacle courses unaided, and the ke, and combinations of these.

1 some embodiments, the method can further include improving confidence by formation following testing. Use of mantras such as "I am perfect just the way I am", "I ke myself", "I believe I can achieve anything in life", "I am thankful for all the things I ave", "day by day in every way I am getting better and better".

1 some embodiments, the method can be practiced on a group of humans imultaneously. Following testing, the group of humans can be segregated based on bility and the method can be repeated.

1 some embodiments, the human is a child. Following practice of the method on a hild, parent(s) can be instructed to monitor the child's behavior, whether the child is ecoming more confident, has better motor skills/focus/memory and the like and ombinations of these. In embodiments the parent can be instructed to affirm the hild's ability. The method can be practiced on the child again after a period of time uch as, for example, about 1 to 2 weeks. In embodiments, feedback can be requested om the parent(s) and the method can be adjusted based on the feedback. l some embodiments, completion of one cycle of the method can take from about 1 our to about 4 hours. In embodiments, completion of one cycle of the method can ike about 2.5 hours. In embodiments, the amount of time spent on each step of the lethod can vary, for example, more time spent relaxing and less time spent testing. In Dme embodiments, the same amount of time can be spent on each step. In some mbodiments each step can be practiced only once to form one cycle of the method. In ime embodiments, one or more of the steps can be repeated more than once to form ne cycle of the method. For example, in embodiments, relaxing can be practiced once Dllowed by two or more repetitions of verbally suggesting mental images and exposing he human to auditory stimulation, followed by testing once. he present disclosure also includes a system for inducing whole brain activation. The ystem can include an activity, a movie, a leader, a musical selection, and a test. The ctivity can include, for example, a group game, a board game, a dance, a song, physical xercises, and eye exercises. The movie can include, for example, self-affirmation, totivational values, and humans performing tests successfully, and the like, and ombinations of these. The leader can include one or more of a visualization instructor, mediation guide and the like. The musical selection can include one or more of sounds f the rainforest, relaxing music, stimulating music, brain wave music, and the like, and ombinations of these. The test can include blindfolded puzzle completion, blindfolded rithmetic, blindfolded coloring, blindfolded drawing, blindfolded walking, and the like, nd combinations of these. he present disclosure also includes a kit for whole brain activation. The kit can iclude, for example, a relaxation tool; a motivational movie; a resting mat; an mp3 layer with frequency music; a blindfold; and a task. The relaxation tool can include, for xample a board game, a music score, a blanket, an eye chart and the like and ombinations of these. The resting mat can be used for example with guided leditation or visualization. The mp3 player can be any type of music player whether for se with headphones or speakers and can play any type of music file such as mp3, mp4, i/AV, AIFF, AU, and the like and combinations of these. The mp3 player can include lusic such as for example frequency music for inducing alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and leta neural oscillations. The mp3 player can be any form of music or sound player for laying music and/or guided narrations. The task can include, for example, a book, a uzzle, a coloring book, cards having pictures of objects, a mathematical equation, an bstacle course, and the like and combinations of these. η embodiments, the kit can include instructions for achieving midbrain activation and or use of the items in the kit. For example, the instructions can include a series of steps o repeat and instructions regarding how to perform tasks blindfolded. The kit can be ised alone or in a group setting with a leader, instructor, or guide.

Examples

xample 1

!elaxation - the following steps can be used to relax the human body:

1. Place the left hand on the chest and the right hand on the abdomen. Inhale slowly and deeply through the nose, exhale through the mouth. Repeat 10 times.

2. Rub both hands to feel the warmth of the hands. Make the shape of a bowl and cover opened eyes with both hands while inhaling deeply through the nose.

3. Pull each ear massaging from the top of the ear to the ear lobe three times.

4. Place the index and middle fingers behind the ear and massage in a circular rotation, clockwise three times, counter-clockwise three times.

5. Swing both arms forward five times then swing both arms backward five times.

6. While standing on tiptoe, reach both arms upward; inhale slowly and deeply through the nose. Exhale through the mouth, lowering heels to the ground and simultaneously bringing the arms down. Repeat 10 times.

xample 2

elaxation through Eye Exercises

Hold an image a distance away from the eyes. Trace the lines of the image with yeballs without moving head. See examples of images below:

xample 3

even children ages 4 14 to 9 were subjected to the method of the present disclosure icluding: relaxation; verbal suggestion of mental images; and exposure to auditory timulation designed to induce one or more of alpha, beta, delta, theta, or gamma leural oscillations.

Jext the children were subjected to blindfolded testing.

Ihild 1: male, 4.5 yrs old - arranged building blocks blindfolded;

:hild 2, male, 8 yrs old - played piano blindfolded;

:hild 3, male, 5 yrs old - completed puzzle blindfolded;

ihild 4, male, 7 yrs old - identified pictures and numbers on cards blindfolded;

!hild 5, female, 6 yrs old - identified colors and numbers on cards blindfolded;

:hild 6, female, 9 yrs old - mimicked teacher's actions from > 10m away while ilindfolded;

:hild 7, male, 7 yrs old, arranged cards in sequence while blindfolded.

Claims

!laims

1. A method of training the whole brain comprising:

relaxing the body of a human;

verbally suggesting mental images to said human;

exposing said human to auditory stimulation designed to induce one or more of alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta neural oscillations; and

testing said human.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein said relaxing the body of a human includes one or more of dancing, exercising the eyes, playing games, drinking water, and warming up the body.

3. The method of claim 1, further comprising affirming abilities of said human.

4. The method of claim 3, wherein said affirming abilities comprises role playing, watching others perform challenging tasks successfully, and watching movies containing motivational values.

5. The method of claim 1, wherein said verbally suggesting mental images comprises guided visualization.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein said auditory stimulation designed to induce one or more of alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta neural oscillations comprises sounds of nature and guided narration.

7. The) method of claim 1, wherein testing said human comprises performing tasks blindfolded.

8. The method of claim 7, wherein said tasks are selected from the group consisting of reading a book, completing a puzzle, drawing, coloring, accurately selecting a color or objects depicted in a picture, completing a mathematical equation, and walking through obstacle courses unaided.

9. The method of claim 1, further comprising additional affirmation.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein said verbally suggesting mental images to said human and said exposing said human to auditory stimulation designed to induce one or more of alpha, beta, gamma, delta, and theta neural oscillations are repeated two or more times in sequence.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the human is a child.

12. A system for inducing midbrain activation comprising:

an activity;

a movie;

a leader;

a musical selection; and

a test.

13. The system of claim 12, wherein said activity includes one or more of a board game, a dance, a song, and eye exercises.

14: The system of claim 12, wherein said movie includes one or more of self- affirmation, motivational values, and humans performing tests successfully.

15. The system of claim 12, wherein said leader includes one or more of a visualization instructor, and a mediation guide.

16. The system of claim 12, wherein said musical selection includes one or more of sounds of the rainforest, bells, waves, raindrops, birds, waterfalls, and brain wave music.

17. The system of claim 12, wherein said test comprises blindfolded puzzle completion, blindfolded arithmetic, blindfolded coloring, blindfolded drawing, and blindfolded walking.

18. A kit for midbrain activation comprising:

a relaxation tool;

a motivational movie;

a resting mat;

an mp3 player with frequency music;

a blindfold; and

a task.

19. The kit of claim 18, wherein the relaxation tool includes at least one of a board game, music score, a blanket, and an eye chart.

20. The kit of claim 18 wherein the task includes at least one of a book, a puzzle, a coloring book, cards comprising pictures of objects, a mathematical equation, and an obstacle course.