Systems and methods for processing sonified brain signals

Abstract

Systems and methods for sonifying electrical signals obtained from a living subject, particularly EEG signals, are disclosed. A time-domain signal representing the activity of an organ is obtained. A voltage of the time-domain signal over a time block is determined. An acoustic signal based on the time-domain signal over the time block is produced. The acoustic signal comprises one or more audibly discernible variations representative of the activity of the organ. If the determined voltage is over a threshold voltage, the time-domain signal is squelched over at least a portion of the time-block as the acoustic signal is produced. The time-domain signal can be squelched by ramping down the signal as an input to produce the acoustic signal. The frequency spectrum of the acoustic signal can also be adjusted as it is produced, such as by flattening the signal and/or attenuating high frequencies along the frequency spectrum of the signal.

1 . (canceled) 
     
     
         2 . A method of sonifying electrical signals obtained from a living subject, the method comprising:
 obtaining a time-domain signal representing activity of a target organ of the living subject;   producing a measurement acoustic signal based on the time-domain signal, wherein the measurement acoustic signal comprises one or more audibly discernible variations representative of activity of the target organ of the living subject; and   providing a comparison acoustic signal, wherein the comparison acoustic signal comprises one or more audibly discernible variations representative of comparable activity of the target organ of a sample subject.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the acoustic signal is musical. 
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the time-domain signal comprises one or more of an ECG, EKC, EEG, ENG, or EMG signal. 
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the organ of the living subject comprises a heart of the living subject, and the one or more audibly discernible variations of the measurement acoustic signal and the comparison acoustic signal are representative of activity of the heart. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein the organ of the living subject comprises a brain of the living subject, and the one or more audibly discernible variations of the measurement acoustic signal and the comparison acoustic signal are representative of activity of the brain. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising audibly providing, with one or more speakers, the measurement acoustic signal to the living subject for feedback therapy for the living subject or to a living person other than the living subject for determining activity of the target organ of the living subject. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 7 , wherein the feedback therapy or the determination of the activity of the target organ is based on the one or more audibly discernible variations of the measurement acoustic signal. 
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 2 , further comprising audibly providing, with one or more speakers, the comparison acoustic signal for determining activity of the target organ of the living subject. 
     
     
         10 . The method of  claim 9 , wherein the activity of the target organ is determined by comparing the measurement acoustic signal with the comparison acoustic signal. 
     
     
         11 . The method of  claim 2 , wherein providing the comparison acoustic signal comprises providing a database or library of a plurality of comparison acoustic signals. 
     
     
         12 . A system for sonifying electrical signals obtained from a living subject, the system comprising:
 one or more processors; and   a memory coupled to the one or more processors, the memory comprises instructions for the one or more processors to:
 obtain a time-domain signal representing activity of a target organ of the living subject, 
 produce a measurement acoustic signal based on the time-domain signal, wherein the measurement acoustic signal comprises one or more audibly discernible variations representative of activity of the target organ of the living subject, and 
 provide a comparison acoustic signal, wherein the comparison acoustic signal comprises one or more audibly discernible variations representative of comparable activity of the target organ of a sample subject. 
   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the acoustic signal is musical. 
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the time-domain signal comprises one or more of an ECG, EKC, EEG, ENG, or EMG signal. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the organ of the living subject comprises a heart of the living subject, and the one or more audibly discernible variations of the measurement acoustic signal and the comparison acoustic signal are representative of activity of the heart. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 12 , wherein the organ of the living subject comprises a brain of the living subject, and the one or more audibly discernible variations of the measurement acoustic signal and the comparison acoustic signal are representative of activity of the brain. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 12 , further comprising one or more speakers. 
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are configured to instruct the one or more speakers to audibly provide the measurement acoustic signal to the living subject for feedback therapy for the living subject or to a living person other than the living subject for determining activity of the target organ of the living subject. 
     
     
         19 . The system of  claim 18 , wherein the feedback therapy or the determination of the activity of the target organ is based on the one or more audibly discernible variations of the measurement acoustic signal. 
     
     
         20 . The system of  claim 17 , wherein the one or more processors are further configured to instruct the one or more speakers to audibly provide the comparison acoustic signal for determining activity of the target organ of the living subject 
     
     
         21 . The system of  claim 20 , wherein the activity of the target organ is determined by comparing the measurement acoustic signal with the comparison acoustic signal. 
     
     
         22 . The system of  claim 17 , further comprising a database or library of a plurality of comparison acoustic signals. 
     
     
         23 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the database or library is stored in the memory of the system. 
     
     
         24 . The system of  claim 22 , wherein the database or library is accessible from the system as a remote database.