Non-invasive systems and methods for the detection and modulation of a user's mental state through awareness of priming effects

#The present inventions relate to methods and systems for non-invasive measurements in the human body, and in particular, methods and systems related to detecting a mental state of a human and providing neurofeedback of that mental state through awareness of priming effects.

#It is generally known that awareness of one's subconscious mental state, such as anxiety, focus, attention, creativity, positive or negative reflections/attitude on experiences or the use of objects, the employment of certain critical cognitive brain areas, etc., may lead to better emotional mood regulation and more objective decision-making. However, the conscious mind typically has peripheral or no awareness of subconscious mental states. Thus, if a person has a negative or unhealthy mental state (e.g., anxiety) within the context of a life or work experience, such person may not be aware of such mental state, and therefore, will be unable to take corrective actions (e.g., modifying or creating a new life or work experience) in order to alleviate or change this mental state.

#As one particular example, in everyday life, one is often subjected to priming effects, whereby exposing a person to one stimulus to influence a response from that person to a subsequent stimulus, without conscious guidance or intention (see en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Priming_(psychology); blog.motivemetrics.com/What-is-Priming-A-Psychological-Look-at-Priming-Consumer-Behavior). Priming operates on the nonconscious form of human memory concerned with perceptual identification of words and objects, and activates particular representations or associations in memory just before carrying out an action or task. For example, a person who sees the word “yellow” will be slightly faster to recognize the word “banana,” since concepts of “yellow” and “banana” are closely associated in memory. Priming can be used to train a person's memory in both positive and negative ways (see www.psychologytoday.com/us.basics/priming).

#The drawings illustrate the design and utility of embodiments of the present invention, in which similar elements are referred to by common reference numerals. In order to better appreciate how the above-recited and other advantages and objects of the present inventions are obtained, a more particular description of the present inventions briefly described above will be rendered by reference to specific embodiments thereof, which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. Understanding that these drawings depict only typical embodiments of the invention and are not therefore to be considered limiting of its scope, the invention will be described and explained with additional specificity and detail through the use of the accompanying drawings in which:

#FIG. 1A is a block diagram of a non-invasive anti-priming system constructed in accordance with one embodiment of the present inventions;

#FIG. 1B is a block diagram of a non-invasive anti-priming system constructed in accordance with another embodiment of the present inventions;

#The non-invasive anti-priming systems described herein use higher fidelity processes to acquire neural signals from an individual, compared to EEG systems, and do not require heavy or bulky magnet tunnel tube-type enclosures like fMRI systems require, and thus, may be implemented in a small, portable, and wearable form factor for use by an individual in a normal life and work environment.

#For purposes of this specification, a “normal life and work environment” is an environment that is usual and ordinary, and thus, necessitates that the user be able to freely ambulate without any physical hindrance by the non-invasive anti-priming system or other system to which the non-invasive anti-priming system is coupled or otherwise is an adjunct. Thus, a normal life and work environment excludes settings in which the user is unable to freely move (e.g., any clinical setting in which a conventional magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) machine or computed tomography (CT) could potentially be used to detect neural activity from the user and hinder the user's movement). In alternative embodiments, the non-invasive anti-priming systems described herein may be non-portable and/or non-wearable in cases where it is suitable for the non-invasive anti-priming system to be operated outside of a normal life and working environment.

#The higher quality neural data acquired by the non-invasive anti-priming systems described herein lead to granular insights on how individual areas in the brain of the individual are responding together, and create new insights on cause and effect on priming effects on the brain of the individual, in effect decoding what third parties, such as advertisers or salespersons, are attempting to accomplish, thereby unveiling their priming strategies and tactics.