Systems, apparatuses, and methods for memory recall and reactivation by targeted stimulation

Abstract

Systems, apparatuses, and methods for memory recall and reactivation by targeted stimulation are provided. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are described for providing patterns of a reinforcing cue re-presentation during sleep. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described for determining patterns of a reinforcing cue for re-presentation during sleep. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described for determining reinforcing cues for re-presentation during sleep. Systems, apparatuses, and methods are also described for determining and predicting sleep intervals based only on sleep onset.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A method performed in a sleep system for determining a sleep interval of a subject, comprising:
 determining by a monitoring apparatus of the sleep system an onset of sleep of the subject;   determining by the monitoring apparatus at least one of a sleep stage of the subject or a sleep cycle of the subject based on the onset of sleep, the onset of sleep being the only monitored aspect of the subject used for determining at least one of the sleep stage of the subject or the sleep cycle of the subject; and   providing a reinforcing cue by a stimulation apparatus, according to one or more patterns, to the subject for material of a learning category to be learned by the subject during at least one of a specific sleep stage or a specific sleep cycle based on the subject being in at least one of the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing by the stimulation apparatus another reinforcing cue for the material of the learning category to the subject according to one or more additional patterns during the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle based on the subject being in the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle, wherein the one or more patterns and the one or more additional patterns overlap in one or more of application, location, and duration.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the one or more patterns comprise a variation in at least one of frequency, intensity, volume, order, duration, repetition, or timing of the reinforcing cue. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein determining by the monitoring apparatus of the sleep system the onset of sleep of the subject is based at least on one or more of heart rate, pulse rate, pulse rate symmetry, pulse rate variability, Electroencephalography (EEG) activity, motion, ocular activity, or a lack of red reflex. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein providing the reinforcing cue includes providing during the at least one of a specific sleep stage or a specific sleep cycle when a specific sleep attribute is present. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the specific sleep attribute is determined based at least on which sleep cycle of a progression of sleep cycles, since the onset of sleep was determined, the subject is currently in. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 5 , wherein the specific sleep attribute is at least one of slow waves, sawtooth waves, rapid eye movements, or sleep spindles. 
     
     
         8 . A system for determining a sleep interval of a subject, the system comprising:
 a monitoring apparatus configured to:
 determine an onset of sleep of the subject; and 
 determine at least one of a sleep stage of the subject or a sleep cycle of the subject based on the onset of sleep, the onset of sleep being the only monitored aspect of the subject used for determining at least one of the sleep stage of the subject or the sleep cycle of the subject; and 
   a stimulation manager configured to:
 provide an activation signal to a stimulation apparatus, the activation signal including information associated with one or more patterns of stimulation related to material of a learning category to be learned by the subject during at least one of a specific sleep stage or a specific sleep cycle based on the subject being in at least one of the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle. 
   
     
     
         9 . The system of  claim 8 , further comprising the stimulation apparatus that is configured to:
 provide a reinforcing cue, according to the one or more patterns, to the subject for the material of the learning category during the at least one of the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle.   
     
     
         10 . The system of  claim 9 , where the stimulation apparatus is configured to:
 provide another reinforcing cue for the material of the learning category to the subject according to one or more additional patterns during the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle based on the subject being in the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle, wherein the one or more patterns and the one or more additional patterns overlap in one or more of application, location, and duration.   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 8 , wherein the monitoring apparatus is configured to:
 determine the onset of sleep of the subject based at least on one or more of heart rate, pulse rate, pulse rate symmetry, pulse rate variability, Electroencephalography (EEG) activity, motion, ocular activity, or a lack of red reflex.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 11 , wherein stimulation manager is configured to:
 provide the activation signal during the at least one of a specific sleep stage or a specific sleep cycle based at least on a detection of a specific sleep attribute by the monitoring apparatus.   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the specific sleep attribute is determined based at least on which sleep cycle of a progression of sleep cycles, since the onset of sleep was determined, the subject is currently in. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the specific sleep attribute is at least one of slow waves, sawtooth waves, rapid eye movements, or sleep spindles. 
     
     
         15 . A computer-readable storage medium having instructions recorded thereon that, when executed by a processing device, perform a method for determining a sleep interval of a subject, the method comprising:
 determining by a monitoring apparatus an onset of sleep of the subject;   determining by the monitoring apparatus at least one of a sleep stage of the subject or a sleep cycle of the subject based on the onset of sleep, the onset of sleep being the only monitored aspect of the subject used for determining at least one of the sleep stage of the subject or the sleep cycle of the subject; and   causing a reinforcing cue to be provided by a stimulation apparatus, according to one or more patterns, to the subject for material of a learning category to be learned by the subject during at least one of a specific sleep stage or a specific sleep cycle based on the subject being in at least one of the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle.   
     
     
         16 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the method further comprises:
 causing another reinforcing cue to be provided by the stimulation apparatus for the material of the learning category to the subject according to one or more additional patterns during the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle based on the subject being in the specific sleep stage or the specific sleep cycle, wherein the one or more patterns and the one or more additional patterns overlap in one or more of application, location, and duration.   
     
     
         17 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein the one or more patterns comprise a variation in at least one of frequency, intensity, volume, order, duration, repetition, or timing of the reinforcing cue. 
     
     
         18 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein determining by the monitoring apparatus the onset of sleep of the subject is based at least on one or more of heart rate, pulse rate, pulse rate symmetry, pulse rate variability, Electroencephalography (EEG) activity, motion, ocular activity, or a lack of red reflex. 
     
     
         19 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 15 , wherein providing the reinforcing cue includes providing during the at least one of a specific sleep stage or a specific sleep cycle when a specific sleep attribute is present. 
     
     
         20 . The computer-readable storage medium of  claim 19 , wherein the specific sleep attribute is determined based at least on which sleep cycle of a progression of sleep cycles, since the onset of sleep was determined, the subject is currently in; or wherein the specific sleep attribute is at least one of slow waves, sawtooth waves, rapid eye movements, or sleep spindles.