Speech-based biofeedback method and system
DCFirst Claim
1. A method for effecting biofeedback regulation of at least one physiological variable characteristic of a subject'"'"'s emotional state, comprising the steps of:
- (a) monitoring at least one speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to produce an indication signal representative of the at least one physiological variable,(b) consciously altering the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to induce a desired change in the indication signal;
(c) monitoring at least one non-speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to determine a reference level of said non-speech parameter when the at least one physiological variable is at a required level, andconsciously altering the at least one speech parameter so as to cause said non-speech parameter to assume said reference level.
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Abstract
A method for effecting biofeedback regulation of at least one physiological variable characteristic of a subject'"'"'s emotional state, comprising the steps of monitoring at least one speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to produce an indication signal, and using the indication signal to provide the subject with an indication of the at least one physiological variable. A system permits the method to be carried out in standalone mode or via the telephone line, in which case the indication signal may be derived at a location remote from the subject. Likewise, information relating to the subject'"'"'s emotional state can be conveyed vocally to a remote party or textually through the Internet, and then processed as required.
215 Citations
39 Claims
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1. A method for effecting biofeedback regulation of at least one physiological variable characteristic of a subject'"'"'s emotional state, comprising the steps of:
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(a) monitoring at least one speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to produce an indication signal representative of the at least one physiological variable, (b) consciously altering the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to induce a desired change in the indication signal; (c) monitoring at least one non-speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to determine a reference level of said non-speech parameter when the at least one physiological variable is at a required level, and consciously altering the at least one speech parameter so as to cause said non-speech parameter to assume said reference level. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A system for effecting biofeedback regulation of at least one physiological variable characteristic of a subject'"'"'s emotional state, the system comprising:
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a microphone for converting the subject'"'"'s speech to an electrical signal, a processing means coupled to the microphone for deriving from the electrical signal at least one speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state and for producing therefrom an indication signal, an indication means coupled to the processing means and responsive to the indication signal for providing the subject with an indication of the at least one physiological variable; at least one sensor for detecting a non-speech parameter characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state and producing a corresponding sensor signal, and reference signal means coupled to the at least one sensor and responsive to the sensor signal for determining a reference level of said non-speech parameter when the at least one physiological variable is at a required level. - View Dependent Claims (20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30, 31, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36)
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37. A method for effecting biofeedback regulation of at least one physiological variable characteristic of a subject'"'"'s emotional state, comprising the steps of:
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(a) simultaneously monitoring a plurality of speech parameters having a combined response which is characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state and having associated therewith a reference threshold corresponding to a reference emotional state of the subject, (b) determining the reference threshold for the subject, (c) comparing an instantaneous value of the combined response of each of the monitored speech parameters with the corresponding reference threshold so as to produce an indication signal representative of the at least one physiological variable, and (d) consciously altering the subject'"'"'s emotional state so as to induce a desired change in the indication signal. - View Dependent Claims (38)
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39. A system for effecting biofeedback regulation of at least one physiological variable characteristic of a subject'"'"'s emotional state, the system comprising:
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a microphone for converting the subject'"'"'s speech to an electrical signal, a processing means coupled to the microphone for deriving from the electrical signal a plurality of speech parameters each having a combined response which is characteristic of the subject'"'"'s emotional state and having associated therewith a reference threshold corresponding to a reference emotional state of the subject; said processing means further; (a) determining the reference threshold for the subject, and (b) comparing an instantaneous value of the combined response of each of the monitored speech parameters with the corresponding reference threshold so as to produce therefrom an indication signal, and an indication means coupled to the processing means and responsive to the indication signal for providing the subject with an indication of the at least one physiological variable.
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Specification