Abstract: A method of predicting response to a sensory stimulus includes, with a processor, automatically receiving behavioral data representing the response of a first population of subjects to a reference stimulus. Data representing the neurological responses of a second, different population of subjects to the reference sensory stimulus are received and processed to provide group-representative data indicating commonality between the neurological responses of at least two members of the second population. A mapping from the group-representative data to the received behavioral data is produced. Test data representing the neurological responses of a third population of subjects to a test sensory stimulus are received and processed to provide test group-representative data indicating commonality between the neurological responses to the test sensory stimulus of at least two members of the third population. The mapping is applied to the test group-representative data to provide predicted behavioral data.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining an efficacy of a stimulus based on one or more measurable physiological responses to one or more stimuli including one or more stimulus features. Data is acquired on physiological responses of a group of one or more subjects to presentation of one or more stimuli including one or more stimulus features. The data on the one or more physiological responses of the one or more subjects is correlated with the presentation of the one or more stimulus features included in the one or more stimuli. The correlated data on the one or more physiological responses are associated with a separately-determined efficacy of the one or more stimuli to form a stimulus efficacy model. From this information, a projected efficacy of a stimulus is determinable by comparing one or more subsequently-measured physiological responses to the stimulus with the stimulus efficacy model.

Abstract: Methods are disclosed for determining an efficacy of a stimulus based on one or more measurable physiological responses to one or more stimuli including one or more stimulus features. Data is acquired on physiological responses of a group of one or more subjects to presentation of one or more stimuli including one or more stimulus features. The data on the one or more physiological responses of the one or more subjects is correlated with the presentation of the one or more stimulus features included in the one or more stimuli. The correlated data on the one or more physiological responses are associated with a separately-determined efficacy of the one or more stimuli to form a stimulus efficacy model. From this information, a projected efficacy of a stimulus is determinable by comparing one or more subsequently-measured physiological responses to the stimulus with the stimulus efficacy model.

Abstract: An electrode assembly for neuro-cranial stimulation includes an electrode, a conductive gel, and an adapter including an interior compartment for positioning the electrode relative to the adapter and for receiving and retaining the conductive gel. The conductive gel contacts the electrode along an electrode-gel interface. An orifice at one end of the interior compartment and adjacent to a positioning surface of the adapter for positioning the electrode assembly against a skin surface of a user enables the conductive gel is able to contact the skin surface of the user to define a gel-skin interface, such that a minimum distance between the electrode-gel interface and the gel-skin interface is maintained between 0.25 cm and 1.3 cm. An electrode assembly mounting apparatus is provided for adjustably positioning a plurality of electrode assemblies against target positions on the cranium.

Abstract: A system includes an in vivo imaging device for imaging a blood vessel with a resolution level of at least fifty micrometers. The in vivo imaging device is capable of detecting a microcalcification in a fibrous cap of an atheroma. The system also includes a processor for receiving an image of the blood vessel from the in vivo imaging device. The processor uses the image to determine whether the blood vessel contains at least one microcalcification within the fibrous cap. In some embodiments, the processor is configured and arranged to predict a risk of rupture of the fibrous cap based, at least in part, on the presence of the at least one microcalcification. In some embodiments, treatment of a patient is based on the determination from the imaging whether the blood vessel includes at least one microcalcification within the fibrous cap of the atheroma.

Abstract: An EEG cap (8) having 64 or 128 electrodes (10) is placed on the head of the subject (11) who is viewing CRT monitor (14). The signals on each channel are amplified by amplifier (17) and sent to an analog-to-digital converter (20). PC (23) captures and records the amplified signals and the signals are processed by signal processing PC (26) performing linear signal processing. The resulting signal is sent back to a feedback/display PC (29) having monitor (14). An EEG cap (8) having 64 or 128 electrodes (10) is placed on the head of the subject (11) who is viewing CRT monitor (14). The signals on each channel are amplified by amplifier (17) and sent to an analog-to-digital converter (20). PC (23) captures and records the amplified signals and the signals are processed by signal processing PC (26) performing linear signal processing. The resulting signal is sent back to a feedback/display PC (29) having monitor (14).

Abstract: An electrode assembly for neuro-cranial stimulation includes an electrode, a conductive gel, and an adapter including an interior compartment for positioning the electrode relative to the adapter and for receiving and retaining the conductive gel. The conductive gel contacts the electrode along an electrode-gel interface. An orifice at one end of the interior compartment and adjacent to a positioning surface of the adapter for positioning the electrode assembly against a skin surface of a user enables the conductive gel is able to contact the skin surface of the user to define a gel-skin interface, such that a minimum distance between the electrode-gel interface and the gel-skin interface is maintained between 0.25 cm and 1.3 cm. An electrode assembly mounting apparatus is provided for adjustably positioning a plurality of electrode assemblies against target positions on the cranium.

Abstract: A system includes an in vivo imaging device for imaging a blood vessel with a resolution level of at least fifty micrometers. The in vivo imaging device is capable of detecting a microcalcification in a fibrous cap of an atheroma. The system also includes a processor for receiving an image of the blood vessel from the in vivo imaging device. The processor uses the image to determine whether the blood vessel contains at least one microcalcification within the fibrous cap. In some embodiments, the processor is configured and arranged to predict a risk of rupture of the fibrous cap based, at least in part, on the presence of the at least one microcalcification. In some embodiments, treatment of a patient is based on the determination from the imaging whether the blood vessel includes at least one microcalcification within the fibrous cap of the atheroma.

Abstract: A method and apparatus is disclosed for performing blind source separation using convolutive signal decorrelation. For a first embodiment, the method accumulates a length of input signal (mixed signal) that comprises a plurality of independent signals from independent signal sources. The invention then divides the length of input signal into a plurality of T-length periods (windows) and performs a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) on the signal within each T-length period. Thereafter, estimated cross-correlation values are computed using a plurality of the averaged DFT values. A total number of K cross-correlation values are computed, where each of the K values is averaged over N of the T-length periods. Using the cross-correlation values, a gradient descent process computes the coefficients of a FIR filter that will effectively separate the source signals within the input signal. A second embodiment of the invention is directed to on-line processing of the input signal—i.e.

Abstract: An apparatus and a concomitant method for modeling local and non-local information in an image to compute an image probability distribution for the image is disclosed. In one embodiment, such an image probability distribution is determined in an object recognition system.

Abstract: A signal processing system for detecting the presence of a desired signal component by applying a probabilistic description to the classification and tracking of various signal components (e.g., desired versus non-desired signal components) in an input signal is disclosed.

Abstract: A signal processing system for detecting the presence of a desired signal component by applying a probabilistic description to the classification and tracking of various signal components (e.g., desired versus non-desired signal components) in an input signal is disclosed.

Abstract: A method and apparatus for training and operating a neural network using gated data. The neural network is a mixture of experts that performs “soft” partitioning of a network of experts. In a specific embodiment, the technique is used to detect malignancy by analyzing skin surface potential data. In particular, the invention uses certain patient information, such as menstrual cycle information, to “gate” the expert output data into particular populations, i.e., the network is soft partitioned into the populations. An Expectation-Maximization (EM) routine is used to train the neural network using known patient information, known measured skin potential data and correct diagnosis for the particular training data and patient information. Once trained, the neural network parameters are used in a classifier for predicting breast cancer malignancy when given the patient information and skin potentials of other patients.

Abstract: A method and apparatus that performs blind source separation using convolutive signal decorrelation. More specifically, the method accumulates a length of input signal (mixed signal) that includes a plurality of independent signals from independent signal sources. The invention then divides the length of input signal into a plurality of T-length periods (windows) and performs a discrete Fourier transform (DFT) on the signal within each T-length period. Thereafter, estimated cross-correlation values are computed using a plurality of the averaged DFT values. A total number of K cross-correlation values are computed, where each of the K values is averaged over N of the T-length periods. Using the cross-correlation values, a gradient descent process computes the coefficients of a finite impulse response (FIR) filter that will effectively separate the source signals within the input signal.