Patent ID: 7594122
Filing Date: 2009-09-22
Classification: A61B

Abstract:
1. A method of determining whether a test subject is a specific individual comprising: a) recording a first electroencephalograph (EEG) over a first period of time from the specific individual; b) exposing the specific individual during the first period of time to a first series of sensory stimuli comprising at least one sensory stimulus familiar to the specific individual and at least four sensory stimuli not familiar to the specific individual, wherein all the sensory stimuli are of the same modality, wherein the test subject is exposed to at least twenty sensory stimuli and wherein the ratio of (a) stimuli not familiar to the specific individual to (b) stimuli familiar to the specific individual to is at least 4:1, and quantitating the amplitude of a P300 waveform evoked by the at least one sensory familiar stimulus in the first EEG; c) recording a second EEG over a second period of time from the test subject; d) exposing the test subject during the second period of time to a second series of sensory stimuli comprising the at least one sensory stimulus familiar to the specific individual and to at least four sensory stimuli not familiar to the specific individual, wherein all the sensory stimuli are of the same modality; e) determining from the second EEG whether the sensory stimulus familiar to the specific individual evokes a P300 waveform in the test subject and quantitating the amplitude of the P300 waveform evoked in the second EEG; and f) comparing the amplitude of the P300 waveform quantitated in step e) with the amplitude of the P300 waveform quantitated in step b), wherein sensory stimuli are irrelevant, relevant and target stimuli, and wherein the sensory stimuli familiar to the specific individual is previously provided by the specific individual, and wherein the test subject is only presented with irrelevant and relevant stimuli, and wherein a P300 waveform quantitated in step e) of greater amplitude than the amplitude of the P300 waveform quantitated in step b) indicates that the test subject is the specific individual, and wherein the failure of the sensory stimulus familiar to the specific individual to evoke a P300 waveform or a P300 waveform quantitated in step e) of the same or lower amplitude than the amplitude of the P300 waveform quantitated in step b) indicates that the test subject is not the specific individual.