Biomonitoring stress management method and device

Claim 3

The method of claim 1 wherein step (E) is performed by programming said computer to automatically increase the difficulty of said task in response to the person's stress level falling below the level determined in step (c).

Claim 4

The method of claim 1, wherein step (C) is performed by: monitoring the performance of said person in accomplishing said task, monitoring the physiological parameter of said person which varies in accordance with the magnitude of psychophysiological stress experienced by said person in accomplishing said task, and determining said level using the monitored performance and the monitored physiological parameter.

Claim 7

The method of claim 4, wherein step (A) is performed by sensing the electrical resistance of the skin of said person.

Claim 8

The method of claim 4, wherein step (A) is performed by sensing the pulse rate of said person.

Claim 9

The method of claim 4, wherein step (A) is performed by sensing the blood pressure of said person.

Claim 10

The method of claim 4, wherein step (A) is performed by sensing the respiration of said person.

Claim 11

The method of claim 4, wherein step (C) is performed by determining the ratio of said monitored physical parameter to said monitored performance.

Claim 12

The method of claim 4, including the step of providing to said person an indication of the magnitude of the parameter monitored in step (A).

Claim 13

The method of claim 4, wherein steps (A) and (B) are performed substantially continuously and step (C) is repeated periodically.

Claim 14

The method of claim 4, further comprising the step of: (F) providing to said person an indication of said stress level when said point is reached.

Claim 15

The method of claim 12, wherein step (F) is performed by generating a visual display indicative of the determined stress level.

Claim 16

The method of claim 12, wherein step (F) is performed by altering said visual display when the stress level determined in step (C) exceeds a previously determined level thereof.

Claim 19

The method of claim 15, wherein step (B) is performed by sensing electrical signals obtained from the body of said person.

Claim 20

The method of claim 15, wherein step (A) is performed by: providing a visual display, providing a manually operable device for altering said visual display, and manually operating said device.

Claim 21

The method of claim 17, wherein the step of providing a visual display is performed by generating video signals using a digital computer, and converting said video signals into visual indicia using a cathode ray tube, and step (D) is performed by altering said video signals in accordance with the magnitude of stress determined in step (E).

Claim 22

The method of claim 15, wherein: step (A) is performed by providing a visual display of characters and means operable by said person for altering the display of said characters, and step (F) further including the steps of terminating said visual display of characters when said magnitude determined in step (E); and is reached and providing a visual display of said physical parameter monitored in step (B).

Claim 23

The method of claim 19, including the step of resuming the visual display of said characters following termination thereof after the magnitude of monitored stress falls below said level determined in step (E).

Claim 26

The method of claim 21, wherein step (A) is performed by: programming a computer with a series of tasks to be performed by said person, displaying indicia on a display which represent said tasks, providing an interactive link between said person and said computer for allowing said computer to respond to the psychophysiological stress experienced by said person in performing said tasks.

Claim 27

The method of claim 22, wherein step (A) is performed by programming said computer to automatically change said tasks in a manner to increase the anxiety of said person in accomplishing said tasks.

Claim 28

For use with a person engaged in a goal oriented, cognitive task which results in anxiety induced, psychophysiological stress in said person, a method of increasing the person's ability to perform under said stress, comprising the steps of: (A) monitoring a physical parameter of said person while said person is performing said task, said parameter varying in accordance with the level of said stress; (B) monitoring the performance of said person in accomplishing said task; (C) determining a first level of said stress for said person from said parameter beyond which level the performance of said person does not substantially increase; (D) storing data corresponding to said first stress level determined in step (C); (E) providing said person with an indication of said first stress level determined in step (C) while said person is performing said task, whereby to allow said person to reduce said stress level through biofeedback; (F) increasing the difficulty of said task after the person's stress level is reduced below said first stress level based on the data stored in step (D); (G) repeating step (A); (H) monitoring the performance of said person in accomplishing the tasks after step (F) is performed; (I) determining a second level of stress greater than said first level beyond which the performance of said person does not substantially increase; (J) storing data corresponding to said second stress level determined in step (I); (K) providing said person with an indication of said second stress level determined in step (I) while said person is performing said task, whereby to allow said person to reduce said stress level through biofeedback.

Claim 29

For use with a person engaged in a goal oriented, cognitive task which results in anxiety induced, psychophysiological stress in said person, a method of increasing the person's ability to perform under said stress, comprising the steps of: (A) monitoring a physical parameter of said person while said person is performing said task, said parameter varying in accordance with the level of said stress; (B) monitoring the performance of said person in accomplishing said task; (C) determining a first level of said stress for said person from said parameter beyond which level the performance of said person does not substantially increase; (D) storing data corresponding to said first stress level determined in step (C); (E) providing said person with an indication of said first stress level determined in step (C) while said person is performing said task, whereby to allow said person to reduce said stress level through biofeedback; (F) increasing the difficulty of said task after the person's stress level is reduced below said first stress level based on the data stored in step (D); (G) repeating step (A); (H) monitoring the performance of said person in accomplishing the tasks after step (F) is performed; (I) determining a second level of stress greater than said first level beyond which the performance of said person does not substantially increase; (J) storing data corresponding to said second stress level determined in step (I); (K) providing said person with an indication of said second stress level determined in step (I) while said person is performing said task, whereby to allow said person to reduce said stress level through biofeedback.

Claim 30

The method of claim 24, wherein steps (D) and (J) are performed by writing said data into a memory, and step (F) is performed by reading said data from said memory using a computer.

Claim 31

The method of claim 24, including the step of, after completing step (K), increasing the difficulty of said task a predetermined amount.