Edmund Scientific Biosone 71809 User manual

INTRODUCTION
Biofeedback. Blofeedback refers to the use of special
equipment to glve the user lmmediate and continulng
signals of changes in his bodily functions not normally
apparent to him. A recently developed tool, biofeed-
back ls being tr.sed ln the biological sciences to monitor
fluctuations in blood pressure, bralnwave activit5r,
muscle tension, skin resistance, and body temperature.
Purpose of the Biosone. The Biosone is a safe portable
self-contained biofeedback system intended solely for use
as a monitoring device to indicate the presence of braln-
wave activity. Brainwaves are minute electrlcal fluc-
tuations caused by the electrochemical actlvity of
neuronal cells wlthin the brain. $rch acttvity varies
with changes in emotion, feeltng and sensory percep-
tion. Bnainwave rhythms are elassified according to
thelr frequeney content and are denoted by Greek let-
ters as follows:
DELTA 0.5 - 3.5 Hz (cycles per second). fblta
activity, the lowest frequency bnainwave , is generally
observed durlng deep, dreamless sleep.
THETA 3.5 - 7 Hz. Theta bralnwave slgnals seem
to be closely related to reflectlve creative moods -
the state reached before sleep, a time wrlters,
artists, and sclentists often get thetr best ideas.
ALPHA 7-t3 Hz. Alpha acttvity is generally associ-
ated wtth stetes of pleasant rela:ratlon and tranqulltty,
and feelings of well-belng. An abundance of alphe-
wave acttvtty represents etates of rest (!g! sleep),
relrxatlon, and relief from attention and concentra-
tion.
BETA t3-25 t[z. Beta, the highest frequency braln-
wave activity, is usually associated with normal,
conscious, waking e:rperience. It can be correlated
wlth focused attention such as ls requlred in problem
solviilg or reading.
The BIOSONE detects, amplifr,es, gelectively filters
and translates minute alpba or theta bratnwaive sig-
nals (EEG) to a proportlonately varylng tone. By
monitortng this feed-back tonal tnformatlon, the user
is able to identify brainwave states.
TWo elec.lrodes, attached to an adjustabte headband,
pick up microvolt brainwave activity at the occipital
reglon of the scalp. The elec"trodes are confrguied
to elimlnate eyeblink and eye tremor interference
(artifacts).
The signal is magnifled in a htgh Bain, low noise ampli-
fier. These characterlstics lnsure the EEG is not con-
taminated with additional transistor noise, thereby de-
grading over-all performance. A sensltivity control
permits a 10: 1 adjustment in amplifier galn accommod-
attng high alpba/theta activity. The ampUned signal is
applied to a swltch gelectable namow band filter. The
fllter selects either alpha or theta etgnals while greatly
attenuating au others. wlde band frlters tend to allow
unrryanted portions of neighboring theta or beta activity
through, complicating alpba recognition. The BIO-
SONE rs narrow band aetive fllters permlt rapid identifi-
cation of the destred bnalnwave state.
The output of the feedback filter drives a voltage con-
trolled oscllLator which translates EEG voltage acttvtty
to a frequency varying tone. warbltng of the tone indl-
cates the presence of the deslred bralnwave state. F. M.
feedback ts prefemed ln long term biofeedbeck use slnce
it avoids a startle reactlon commonly found ln systems
ugrgB abrupt tone feedback. when the user slipi lnto the
alpha or theta state, the low frequenqr bnatnwive sig-
nals tbt pass through the narrow band filter changelhe
constant tone to a non-random characterlstic warbling
($equency modulated) sound. For alpha stgnals, the
change ln sound corresponds to about 1o shifts per sec-
ond; for theta, lt is about F shtfts per second. The
audible Eality is well defined and the clear pleasing
tonal narlatlons allow the user to easily distingufsh-
brainwave stateg.

The F. M. tone volume is adjustable and presented vla
lightweight stethoscoplc earphones insurlng mardmum
comfort even after long perlods of use.
BIO.F E EDBACK MON ITOR I NG
Monitoring brainwave activity is simply a matter of lis-
tening to the fluctuatlons of the feedback tone and relat-
ing these perturbatioru to one ?s emotional and physical
state. rn the absence of brainwave signals , the BIosoNE
presents a tone of eonstant frequency to the user. Rhyth-
mic warbling of the tone is an indication that the desired
brainwave actlvtty has been attained. since the audible
signals return to the users brain, the biofeedback path
is continuously completed and wlth practlce, reinforced
(brain to monitor, to ear, to braln). Thts btofeedback
arrangement is tbe basis for achleving more consistent
and deeper alpba or theta states.
SWITCHES AND CONTROLS
Operating Procedure
1. Find a comfortable place ln which to slt. To
eliminate any possible interference, choose a spot that
is not close to any fluorescent lights, electrical ap-
pliances or large metal surfaces.
2. To promote rela:ration, donrt wear anythlng
tight. Loosen colliar, belt, and shoes.
3. Posltlon headband so the dlsc electrode is di-
rectly on back of the head. Spread hair so tbat electrode
contacts the scalp. close velcro fastener so that elee-
trode is held flrmly, yet comfortably.
4. Apply small amount of eleetrode paste under dtsc
electrode. This paste is used to provide conductive fitm
between electrode and scalp.
5. Apply some electrode paste to inner surface of
ear clip, then clip it to either earlobe.
6- Pl,ace BIosoNE strap around your neck and let
untt rest in front of you; if you prefer, place the instru-
ment beside you.
7. Put on earphones and adjust them for maximum
comfort. Attach earphone and electrode connectors to
thelr respective jacks at top of the unit.
8. set FILTER switch to either ralpbal or fthetaf as
desired. set voLUME and sENslTtvtty controls fully
clockwise.
9. Set POWER switch to ronr. If the resulting
steady tone is too loud, turn voLUME control dourn to
a more pleasing level. Leave SENSITIVITY control in
rmaxr posltlon. After a few seconds, the tone urill
stabilize with some minor fluctuations due to random
bursts of brainwave activity. NorE: If the signals do
not e:rhibtt these normal characteristics, check the
electrode connections and,/or the arnount of electrode
creme.
Because of the inlrerent high sain, necessary to detect
low level brainwave activity, the BIosoNE wilt react
to movement of electrode leads and case with an abrupt
POWER:
FILTER:
VOLUME:
T\rns battery power on and off.
Be sure to set thls swltch to OFF
when not in use to avoid runnlng
down battery.
Selects elther alpha or theta
feedback.
Adjusts amplihrde of sound deliv-
ered by earphones. Used to adjust
sound to comfortable lietenlng level.
SENSITMTY: Adjusts sensltlvity or gain to the
bralnwave slgnals. When set to tmaxr,
the BIOSONE wlll respond to the
weakest alpha or theta stgnals, &p-
pro:dmately 5 uv. As the user self-
generates stronger stgnals, thls con-
trol can be hrrned down to decrease
sensttlvlty, thereby tncreaslng the
tbreshold necessary to initlate the
warbllng tone. At the rmlnr posltlon,
the bralnwave actlvtty must exceed
50 uv to be detected.

change ln tone at the lnstant of movement. Thfs [g
normal and crn be ellmtnttea !y keeptng the uatt and
leads statlonry.
10. T\rrn off or dtm any brtght lights tn the room.
Be su.re that your surrounding" are free of distractlons.
Sit qutetly in a comfortable chair for 3 ta 4 minutes.
Reliax, stay gttll and be pattent. Wbn you enter the
bralnwave state ln wbleh the BIOSONE le set, the con-
stant tone wltl be tnterrupted by modulattons thet sound
llke twa-wa-wa-wa--- f , a dlstlnstive tremelo effeet.
Alpba can usually be most easlly produced by rela:dng,
and ttf,reeing tbe mlnd. rt Each perEon lnvoluntarlly pro-
duoes alpha waves tn varying degpees, from 5 to 30
tlmes per mlnute. Blrsts of alpha m8y last for lnter-
valrs as hlef as l/2 seeplrd or as long as 10 gecondg.
Clostng the eyes and clearlng the mlnd of vtsual tm-
agery wfU gprerally bntng about a train of alphe waveg
eignifled by the warbllng tone, es dtstingutshed from
the clear tore of the non-alphe eyes open state. Wtth
conff,nnred use you wfU be able to recognlze larger
arnpllhrde and more conslstent alpha, lndlcatlng a
deeper stete of relaxed-awareness.
Alpba monltorlng lE eseentlally an lndlcation of the
degree of rela:etlon, therefore any relia:ratlon tech-
niques you may know wtll generally facllttate alpba
production.
NOTE
Achtevlng alpha and theta states ln a conslstent
and deep manner reqtrlres petlence and practice.
Wtth contnued practlce you wtlt be able to recog-
nlze Larger amplltrde and more conslstent alpba,
lndicating a deeper state of mental and pSstcal
relaxed-awareness. Become proflclent ln alpha
monitortng before attemptlng tbeta recogRltton.
Theta ls easler to achleve after the calm and re-
laxed state of alpha bas been reached.
ELECTRODE CARE
Proper operatlon of the BIOSONE regrlres clean elec-
trodes. Skin olLs, dlrt, ad other depostts may ac-
cumulate and severely degrade performance. It is
recommended that the electrodes be regularly cleaned
wlth alcohol after each use.
BATTERY INSTALLATION
Trrrn the battery ewttch to the " off ' posltlon. Remove
the single retalnlng screw on the reer panel of the
unlt. Replace the weah battery wtth a standard I volt
transistor radio bettery (NEDA 1604 or MERCIIRY
TYPE 146X). Replacre and ttghten the rear panel
8Crew.
Check operatlon by tb swltchfng power ,on, and hrrn-
lng the volume control fully clockwlge. The unlt wlll,
after several seconds, produce a steady tone tndicatlng
proper operatlon. Loss of volume and eensltlvlty are
lndleatlve of a wealc bttery.
Do not attempt to connect the BIOSONE dlrectly
to A. C. llne operated egripment, €. g. , tSpe re-
oorder, oscllloscope, etc. Faulty or lmproper
groundlng technlques ln sald equlpment may cause
severe elecflcal shock.

SPECIFICATIONS
FREQUENCY RESPONSE
Ceder Fleqrensy (Hz. )
3 db. bandwidth (Hz.)
Rolloff Slope (db/oct. )
ALPHA THETA
105
21 L2
IIIINIMUM DETE CTA BLE SGTiI.AL
5 mlcrovolts from a 10K ohm source
INPUT IMPEDANCE
50K ohms
PO1TTER REQTIIREMENT
1 Ntne Volt Trenslstor :
Bettery Tlrpe NEDA 1604.
$rytcal Bettery Ltfe Greater
Than 100 houre
SENSITTVTTY RANGE
10:1
OUTPUT
F'i4quency Moduleted Tone.
Center Frequency 500 llz.
MECHANICAf,tvr Silze; 4-l/2 x 2-L/2 x L-L/4,
,, '' Welgfrj; 6 oz.
:
WARRANTY&
All BIOSONE modeliu'*" warranted t defecttve
parts and workmanshlp for a pertod of orre yrofr.from
date of sale. A defestive unltiwlll be repaire#,br a
$3.00 handllng charge. After the one year perlod'
repalre wtll be made on a parta plus labor basls. ,.:
eoy attempt to alter or repalr the devl,ce rmlllftes tbGF=,,
warranty. - ''il
+r
oparollng
lnttlucllon,
t0ttlult0 scttilTlFtc c0
BARRINGTON, N J OSOOT
E8732018 rev C