This device uses neural feedback to enhance memory storage and recall in the human brain. The user sits in a room designed for the purpose. The room has a non-unpleasant, but unusual smell. It might be lilacs or coconut for people who aren't generally around those smells. It has an unusual color scheme, such as red with little blue stars. Pleasant, quiet music is used, of a genre the user generally doesn't listen to.

These effects enhance memory storage by associating the new memories with unusual stimuli. By learning in this room the user re-associates the memories each time, strengthening the associated memories. The user can think of, for example, blue stars and this may trigger helpful associations. Or wear coconut perfume to a test or place of practical application.

The user also has electrodes attached to his head. The NeuroVerse Helmet monitors brain signals first in the case of each separate unusual stimuli (wear it smelling coconut. Then wear it smelling lilacs. Then wear it looking at blue stars) to suss out patterns which may be associated with those stimuli. Then the user wears the helmet in the room with the whole ensemble. The helmet looks for p300 spikes and identifies, where possible, associations with the room's stimuli. When recall of a specific item is desired the user can use the associated smartphone app to identify the most closely related stimulus. That is, the stimulus which was most likely present in his brain along with the p300 spike related to that memory when he learned it.

The EEG leads also control a break timer. When the user is no longer really learning, as proven by a lack of p300 spikes, the break timer sounds. The user takes a short break and comes back ready to learn.

Credit for this idea goes to an AI. Credit for the write-up goes to Voice.
-- Voice, May 08 2024

P 300 spikes https://en.wikipedi...P300_(neuroscience)
[Voice, May 08 2024]

Had me at lilac and coconut smells, lost me at electrodes attached to the head.

Ahh, what the hell. [+]
-- doctorremulac3, May 08 2024


//in this room the user re-associates the memories//

So, potentially a bit like drunk learning, the way I play darts much better drunk than sober because I only ever play darts in pubs, the slightly altered brain chemistry can mean the acquired skills are only fully accessible when the brain chemistry is returned to what it was when they were learned.

The danger is you may best remember what you learn when you smell violets in a red room with tinkly music playing.

[Somewhat later, sat in a white painted exam room smelling faintly of pine scented floor cleaner with a faint hint of mint from stale chewing gum under the desk and only the sound of the clock ticking, the scratch and rustle of pencils on paper and the occasional cough of other examinees]

Bugger! I could swear I knew this stuff before!
-- Skewed, May 08 2024


Tailor the stimuli to expected conditions in which the knowledge or skill will be needed maybe?
-- Skewed, May 08 2024


Most predictable game of darts ever. I haven't gotten to the playing part but if Mr. Simple Southern man loses I'll eat my sister's pants with a side of custard.
-- Voice, May 09 2024


Joke's on you, I would eat them with hot sauce too.
-- Voice, May 09 2024


//Interesting hypothesis//

I've used my own words much as I thought them before I did any looking, but if you go look you will find papers that support it, I did when I looked years back.

It's not important enough to me to be seen to be (even partly) right on this for me to go digging for them to link some for you myself though, so you'll have to do your own digging if you want them ;p

It seems to work with memory as well as learned reflexes, I've had fun induced memory loss before that I've seemingly been able to amerolate with a few beers, getting a little drunk (seems to work best doing it in the same place but seems to work some at least even without that) does seem to allow me to access the memories from when I was really drunk and retain them better later when I am completely sober.

But it's a definite brain chemistry thing so not (really) analogous to stimuli triggers as in your idea here.
-- Skewed, May 09 2024


Good question, nipples and genethlia are traditional of course, but earlobes are a no no, you don't want to go scrambling their brain mid interrogation.. [pauses, looks out across the room,. turns to check the on-stage logo display].. ah, sorry, I seem to have the wrong conference [shuffles apologetically off-stage left]
-- Skewed, May 09 2024


//If you hadn't mentioned custard I'd think you were a pervert//

Those American pants or English pants you were talking about there [Voice]? .. your answer is important for your pervert status, and maybe how annoyed your sister is going to be, not to mention how long the feat is going to take you .. regardless, over a long enough time, suitably shredded to very small bits in a blender and with a large enough side order of custard to mix it into this shouldn't be too hard.

Bon appetit?
-- Skewed, May 09 2024



random, halfbakery