Apparatus, system, and method for modulating consolidation of memory during sleep

A portable user-controllable device for improving memory, the device comprising:

• a user interface comprising a control allowing a user to place the device into a training mode indicating a training session;
• a sensory stimulator configured to present a plurality of distinct sensory stimuli;
• sleep monitoring logic configured to determine using user motion and heart rate when the user is in slow wave sleep;
• a controller comprising control logic configured to determine a specific sensory stimulus received by the user concurrent with a particular training session;
• wherein the controller is further configured to reapply the specific sensory stimulus when the user is in slow wave sleep following the training session;
• a housing at least partially enclosing the user interface, sensory stimulator, and controller;
• and
• a learning database configured to be populated with training content and contextual sensory stimuli co-presented with the training content,
• wherein the controller is configured to use information from the database to determine a training schedule by selecting which contextual sensory stimuli to repeat and when to repeat each sensory stimuli associated with particular training content over multiple nights of sleep.

A system for improving memory having a training mode and a sleep consolidation mode, the system comprising:

• a user interface comprising a control allowing a user to switch the device to the training mode to indicate a training session;
• a sensory stimulator configured to play back an ambient stimulus recorded during a training session;
• a sleep monitor configured to monitor when the user is in slow wave sleep without contacting the user's head;
• a controller comprising control logic receiving input from the user interface and configured to cause the system to record the ambient stimulus during the training session, further wherein the controller receives information on the patient's sleep state from the sleep monitor, and controls the sensory stimulator to apply the recorded ambient stimulus when the user is experiencing slow wave sleep following the specific training session;
• and
• a learning database configured to be populated with training content and contextual sensory stimuli co-presented with the training content,
• wherein the controller is configured to use training content from the database to determine a training schedule by selecting which contextual sensory stimuli to repeat and when to repeat each sensory stimuli associated with particular training content over multiple nights of sleep.

A method of improving memory with a user-controlled device, the method comprising:

• selecting, in a user-controlled device, contextual sensory stimuli that are received by the user during one or more learning periods;
• populating a learning database with training content and contextual sensory stimuli co-presented with the training content during the one or more learning periods;
• determining a training schedule by selecting which contextual sensory stimuli to repeat and when to repeat each contextual sensory stimuli during a plurality of slow wave sleep stages;
• detecting user motion, with the user-controlled device, and determining a slow wave sleep stage in the user from the user motion without contacting the user's head;
• and
• delivering, from the user-controlled device, contextual sensory stimulus to the user during the slow wave sleep stage according to the training schedule.