Preclinical and clinical studies have shown that the autonomic nervous system (parasympathetic and sympathetic nervous systems) show reliable changes across the sleep wake cycle. Most importantly, the parasympathetic nervous system shows increased activity during sleep consistent with its role in regulating rest. Further, patients with insomnia show reduced parasympathetic activity and/or increased sympathetic activity during sleep consistent with a neurobiological model of hyperarousal. Described herein are methods and apparatuses that activate the parasympathetic nervous system in response to a diving reflex; a sustained diving reflex may, surprisingly, lead to enhancing sleep. The apparatuses and methods described herein may specifically and/or selectively activate this reflex may play a therapeutic role in the modulation of sleep in insomnia patients.

A robotic integrated platform for rehabilitating an upper limb of a subject, comprising: a rehabilitation device, said rehabilitation device comprising a mobile platform, a fixed platform, an upper limb platform and a movement altering device; wherein said mobile platform is movable in regard to said fixed platform, and wherein the upper limb of the subject is in physical contact with said upper limb platform, for exerting a force against said upper limb platform; and wherein said movement altering device alters a movement of said mobile platform; a controller interface for controlling said movement altering device; a computational device for controlling said controller interface, said computational device comprising a VR (virtual reality) module for constructing a VR environment, wherein said computational device provides haptic feedback to the subject through said rehabilitation device; and a VR display for the subject to view the VR environment.

The present invention provides a device which can generate commands for controlling a physical therapy apparatus adapted to accept external commands. The device has a base, a motion manipulation portion and a moveable portion of substantially the same shape and dimensions as the portion of the physical therapy apparatus which interacts with at least one part of the body of a patient. The device also includes conversion means for converting stored time-dependent output signals to a series of command signals and means for transmitting the command signals to the physical therapy apparatus. The command signals are produced by the movements of the moveable portion, and, when transmitted to the physical therapy apparatus, can induce the physical therapy apparatus to undergo a series of motions substantially identical to those of the moveable portion.

A touch screen based exercise roller device is disclosed. The device comprising an elongated, cylindrical shell configured to support physical activity of a user, a processing unit, a sensor array for measurement data associated with at least one parameter associated with physical activity, wherein the sensor array linked to the processing unit, and a touch screen attached onto the outer surface of the shell communicatively linked for controlling a software application, wherein the software application is configured to process data associated with the physical activity of a user.

System and methods are provided to promote effortless automatic recognition of common sight words. A subject performs a game-like task that generates novel non-verbal visual stimuli that triggers visual attention shifts that enhance foveal and parafoveal recognition of non-verbal and verbal stimuli laterally presented in the right or left visual field. The present invention engages a shared motor-perceptual-cognitive neural network involving oculomotor, visuo-motor and selective executive cognitive behaviors on both brain hemispheres. The present invention has applications to a wide range of non-verbal pre-orthographic visual processes and early lexical processes, not only contributing to enabling reading fluency to dyslexics, reluctant and slow readers, but also to beginning readers. The present invention has wide applications in learning disabilities and normative individuals learning to read.

The present disclosure relates to a system for relieving pain of a user comprising an electromechanical transducer configured to generate generate tactile sound waves (vibrations) with a frequency between 5 Hz and 200 Hz, a holder configured to keep the transducer in a fixed position adjacent to the mesenterial and internal organs' Pacinian corpuscles located in the abdominal cavity of the user, and a controller configured to control the amplitude and frequency of the transducer.

A vibration module for applying vibrational tractions to a wearer's skin is presented. Use of the vibration module in headphones is illustrated for providing tactile sensations of low frequency for music, for massage, and for electrical recording and stimulation of the wearer. Damped, planar, electromagnetically-actuated vibration modules of the moving magnet type are presented in theory and reduced to practice, and shown to provide a substantially uniform frequency response over the range 40-200 Hz with a minimum of unwanted audio.

Systems and methods for non-invasive management of head pain are disclosed. The system includes a headgear configured to be worn on a patient's head. The headgear can include a base and an extension coupled to the base, and a number of therapy devices removably or adjustably attached to the base or the extension. The therapy devices can deliver various modes of therapeutic energy at respective target sites on the head, including neuromodulation of peripheral pain pathways and/or the cerebral cortex, and therapy modalities to facilitate or enhance the neuromodulation effects. The system can include a portable device that enables the user to control the therapy devices on the headgear. The user can use the portable device to optionally access a web-based repository to acquire information about headgear usage from other users, and use that information to guide the programming of the therapy devices.

Described herein are wearable sensory stimulation and monitoring devices that can be worn around the back of the neck along and in contact with the spine. Apparatuses described herein stimulate one or more senses including auditory, tactile or olfactory. Apparatuses are also described that allow for sensing and monitoring of physiologic parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure and movement. The device also has features that allow for easy attachment or integration to articles worn on the head such as augmented reality and virtual reality accessories to provide visual stimulation and entertainment.

Described herein are wearable sensory stimulation and monitoring devices that can be worn around the back of the neck along and in contact with the spine. Apparatuses described herein stimulate one or more senses including auditory, tactile or olfactory. Apparatuses are also described that allow for sensing and monitoring of physiologic parameters such as heart rate, blood pressure and movement. The device also has features that allow for easy attachment or integration to articles worn on the head.