Parameterized Sensory System for Subliminal Memory Disturbance Reduction

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional psychotherapeutic techniques for reducing disturbance associated with traumatic memories often require patients to consciously focus on the memories, which can be destabilizing and may lead to reduced success rates, especially without professional assistance, and computerized methods lack significant impact without psychological guidance.

Innovation Solution

A parameterized sensory system that uses a graphical user interface to present a reminder phrase related to a disturbing memory at randomized locations on a display for short durations, distracting the user with tasks to reduce disturbance levels without conscious processing, allowing non-conscious mechanisms to address traumatic memories.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If conventional psychotherapeutic techniques require patients to consciously focus on traumatic memories, then the treatment can address the memories directly, but the disturbance level increases and success rate decreases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetreatment success rateVSAvoiddisturbance level

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of consciously focusing on traumatic memories as in conventional therapy, the system inverts the approach by using subliminal presentation of memory-related stimuli below conscious awareness threshold, allowing the brain to process traumatic memories without the patient consciously engaging with them, thereby reducing disturbance while maintaining treatment effectiveness

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Solution Approach 2:

The system introduces an intermediary mechanism (subliminal stimulus presentation through computerized delivery) that mediates between the traumatic memory and the patient's conscious awareness, allowing therapeutic processing to occur through non-conscious mechanisms rather than direct conscious confrontation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If computerized techniques are used to deliver psychotherapeutic treatment, then professional assistance is reduced, but the impact is insufficient without psychological guidance

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveself-administered capabilityVSAvoidtreatment impact

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The system enables self-service by allowing patients to administer treatment themselves through computerized delivery of subliminal stimuli, eliminating the need for professional psychological guidance while maintaining treatment integrity through automated control of stimulus parameters and delivery timing

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Solution Approach 2:

The system achieves reliable treatment impact through precise parameter control of subliminal stimuli (duration, intensity, frequency, randomization patterns) that are optimized based on psychological research, allowing computerized delivery to produce effects comparable to or exceeding traditional therapy without professional intervention

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

3Reliability

If stimuli are presented for long durations, then conscious awareness can process the information, but the therapeutic effect on traumatic memories is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvetherapeutic effectVSAvoidstimulus duration

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDuration of action of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The system optimizes stimulus duration to fall within a specific parameter range (below conscious awareness threshold but sufficient for subliminal processing), creating an optimal window where the stimulus is brief enough to avoid conscious detection yet long enough to allow non-conscious processing of traumatic memory content

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Solution Approach 2:

The system employs periodic presentation of subliminal stimuli with randomized timing and variable duration, creating a pattern of repeated brief exposures that accumulate therapeutic effect over time while maintaining each individual stimulus below conscious awareness duration thresholds

Inventive Principle:

Principle #19Periodic action

Data Source

PatentUS12079462B2Parameterized sensory system

Publication Date: 2024.09.03 MANFIELD PHILIP

AI summary

A processor is configured to execute instructions stored in a memory to control a traversal of a graphical element on a graphical user interface. While the graphical element is controlled to traverse the graphical user interface, the following are repeatedly performed. A random time at which a stimulus is to be output is obtained. A random duration associated with the stimulus is obtained. The stimulus is output for the user at the random time and for the random duration. The random duration is such that the output of the stimulus is outside a conscious awareness of the user. The output of the stimulus is configured to decrease a disturbance level associated with a disturbing memory of the user. A performance of a task related to the graphical element is monitored. After the repeated instruction, a score associated with the user is determined based on the performance of the task.