Systems, methods and devices for paired plasticity

Abstract

Systems, methods and devices for paired training include timing controls so that training and neural stimulation can be provided simultaneously. Paired trainings may include therapies, rehabilitation and performance enhancement training Stimulations of nerves such as the vagus nerve that affect subcortical regions such as the nucleus basalis, locus coeruleus or amygdala induce plasticity in the brain, enhancing the effects of a variety of therapies, such as those used to treat tinnitus, stroke, traumatic brain injury and post-traumatic stress disorder.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A therapeutic system configured to treat a patient with ailments induced by a stroke, comprising:
 a neural stimulator configured to provide controlled electrical stimulation to a nervous system of the patient during a stimulation period;   an instruction unit configured to provide instructions to a patient connected to the neural stimulator to commence training actions, wherein the system is configured to control said neural stimulator to provide stimulation to the nervous system of the patient so that the stimulation period occurs during said training actions.   
     
     
         2 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the system is configured to commence the stimulation before the beginning of the training actions. 
     
     
         3 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the neural stimulator is configured to stimulate the vagus nerve of the patient. 
     
     
         4 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein the instruction unit is configured to provide both visual instructions and audible instructions. 
     
     
         5 . The system of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 a plasticity measuring system configured to measure plasticity generated by a brain of the patient.   
     
     
         6 . The system of  claim 1 , wherein:
 the system is configured to stimulate the trigeminal nerve to affect the subcortical region of the patient to achieve a therapeutic result.   
     
     
         7 . The system of  claim 7 , wherein:
 the system is configured to stimulate other cranial nerves other than the trigeminal nerve to affect the subcortical region of the patient to achieve a therapeutic result.   
     
     
         8 . A method of treating a patient afflicted with an ailment due to a stroke, comprising:
 instructing the patient to engage in training during a training period;   artificially stimulating a vagus nerve of the patient during a stimulation period, wherein   the stimulation period occurs during said training period, and   the combination of the engagement in training and the artificial stimulation produces measurable plasticity in the patient.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the action of stimulating the vagus never is executed via the application of electrical stimulation. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the action of stimulating the vagus never is executed via the application of optical stimulation. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein:
 the plasticity improves a motor function of the patient.   
     
     
         12 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the training is a motion training, and the action of stimulating the vagus nerve affects the nucleus basalis of the patient, thereby improving a motor function thereof. 
     
     
         13 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the training is a motion training, and the action of stimulating the vagus nerve affects the locus coeruleus of the patient, thereby improving a motor function thereof. 
     
     
         14 . A method of training for treating a motor deficit resulting from an event experienced by a patient, comprising:
 repeatedly performing motor training associated with the motor deficit, wherein at least some of the repeated performances of the motor training is temporally linked with nervous system stimulation; and   reducing the patient's motor deficit due to the repeated performance of the motor training in association with the respective nervous system stimulation.   
     
     
         15 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the action of stimulating the nervous system affects the nucleus basalis of the patient, thereby improving a motor function thereof. 
     
     
         16 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the action of stimulating the nervous system affects the locus coeruleus of the patient, thereby improving a motor function thereof. 
     
     
         17 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the event is a stroke. 
     
     
         18 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the method affects the brain of the patient to generate plasticity, thereby reducing the patient's motor deficit. 
     
     
         19 . The method of  claim 18 , further comprising measuring the generated plasticity. 
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 11 , wherein the method affects a subcortical region of the brain of the patient, thereby affecting the brain to induce plasticitiy, thereby reducing the patient's motor deficit. 
     
     
         21 . The method of  claim 8 , wherein the training is a motion training, and the action of stimulating the vagus nerve affects the amygdala of the patient, thereby improving a motor function thereof. 
     
     
         22 . The method of  claim 14 , wherein the action of stimulating the nervous system affects the amygdala of the patient, thereby improving a motor function thereof.