This paper reports a computerized scheme Subband-AR EEG Viewer that provides a comprehensive view of the meditation EEG record. The scheme is mainly designed to trace the varying spectral characteristics in meditation EEG. To accomplish this task, a meditation EEG signal is first decomposed into subband components by tree-structured filter banks. The second-order autoregressive model is then applied to each subband component to estimate its root frequency. Based on the estimated root frequencies and sound logic, specific criterion can be deduced for a particular problem-domain application. To demonstrate the performance of the proposed scheme, two algorithms are introduced for slow α-rhythm detection and meditation EEG interpretation. These algorithms do not require exhausting work at determining appropriate parameters in implementation. Further, due to the second-order autoregressive model adopted, the computation load is greatly reduced. This approach is practically favorable to long-term EEG monitoring and real-time processing, Finally, the meditation scenario can be illustrated by a running gray-scale chart with each gray tone coding a particular EEG rhythmic pattern. Observed meditation scenarios differ significantly from those of the control subjects.

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This study's purposes were to determine a relationship between the average I_a (of currents related to electrodermal activities of ryodoraku) and its imbalance degree, and to determine how this relationship is changed by another relationship between h_a and f_a, where h_a and f_a are average values of weight-added currents of the H-system and the F-system of ryodoraku, respectively. Biomedical characteristics were seen in which the imbalance degree tended to increase for increasing I_a, and the imbalance degree in the case of h_a>f_a was larger than that in the case of h_a≦f_a. A 2-dimensional pattern space method was proposed which is capable of identifying personal biomedical states related to autonomous nervous systems of 24 ryodoraku. It can discriminate such biomedical states as the imbalance degree of autonomous nerve excitement levels related to 24 ryodoraku systems, the relationship between h_a and f_a, and strained, suppressed and medium states of the sympathetic nervous systems.

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The International Society of Life Information Science (ISLIS) is to celebrate the 10th Anniversary of Founding in autumn 2005. ISLIS seeks to realize the paradigm shift from material-oriented science and technology to a new paradigm including the consciousness, spirit and mind through research based on empirical and positive scientific methodologies, and consequently, to promote the development of health, social welfare, and education as well as social and personal peace of mind, and to contribute to the making of a peaceful world, at one with nature. Since the foundation of ISLIS in 1995, 21 symposia have been held and 21 issues of the Journalof ISLIS have been published periodically. ISLIS held the "Human Potential Science International Forum" in Chiba, Japan in 2002 and the "International Conference on Mind Body Science" in Seoul, Korea in 2004. It published the book "Human Potential Science" in 2004. There are ISLIS Information Centers at 9 places in the world and about 240 ISLIS members in 10 countries. The ISLIS Head Office moved to the International Research Institute (IRI), Chiba, Japan in April 2005. ISLIS has promoted the 10th Anniversary Campaign to increase its membership; this is critical for the Society to have an important role in Human Potential Science in the 21st century. The budget status of complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) is reported.

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Maintaining one's brain in a healthy state is fundamentally important to maintain a rich and fulfilling mental and social life. There are numerous ways to eliminate stress and maintain the brain in a healthy condition. Some of the better methods recommended include food, aroma, and doing coloring-in. To confirm the effects of these methods, scientists have begun using new physiological methods such as brain imaging instead of conventional subjective evaluation techniques. Methods used in brain imaging, such as analysis of EEG background activity as well as event-related potentials (ERPs) are not only safe and simple; they also excel as means of allowing long-term, chronological observations of changes in brain function. ERPs electrophysiologically display the process of cognition or of information processing that takes place in the brain. Ordinarily, ERPs are measured by means of setting "oddball task". Analysis of EEG background activity and measurement of ERPs are especially useful for assessing stress and for identifying the status of cerebral dysfunction in dementia patients. Moreover, they can be used not only to measure the effects of pharmacotherapy, but also to objectively evaluate the effects of aroma and food on stress and dementia, which until now have only been evaluated subjectively. By using both methods, we have confirmed that "luxuries" such as coffee and alcoholic beverages as well as foods such as arachidonic acid, an unsaturated fatty acid, are effective in enhancing brain health by alleviating stress and improving brain function.

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Chronic fatigue is a typical symptom of neurological diseases. Fatigue has not been well studied in Parkinson's disease (PD), but has been reported to be the most bothersome aspect of PD in about one-third to one half of all patients. Understanding fatigue may be indispensable for improving quality of life of PD patients.

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Circadian rhythm with 〜24-h periodicity is the most basic and strongest biological rhythm. However, there have been reports of bed-ridden patients with neurodegenerative diseases and unclear circadian rhythm. Sequelae of cerebral infarction include sleep and motor disturbances. Additionally, these are risk factors which induce impairment of quality of life (QOL). We investigated whether biological rhythm disorder in the acute stage of cerebral infarction is associated with sleep disorder in the chronic stage. Thirty-five patients with initial cerebral infarction hospitalized within 48 h of onset and without pyrexic diseases were included in the study. To determine biological rhythmicity, rectal temperature was measured at the acute stage within 48 h of onset at 1min intervals for 48 h using Mini-Logger 2000. Spectral analyses were performed with MEM. Pittsburgh Sleep Quality index was used to evaluate sleep disorder on day 21 after onset or later. In the group that had clear circadian rhythm, sleep disorder was found for 20.8%, but in the group that had unclear circadian rhythm, 63.6% had sleep disorder (P<0.05). At the acute stage of cerebral infarction, some patients have biological rhythm disorder which may be complicated with sleep disorder at the chronic stage, and it may inhibit QOL.

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Certain aromas are known to alleviate stress and change one's mood. We have been evaluating the effects of aroma on brain function, focusing on analysis of electroencephalography (EEG). This paper primarily describes the results of our study on the aroma of heated foods and "luxury beverages" such as tea and coffee. An amino-carbonyl reaction typically occurs between ingredients during heating or storage of food that generates numerous aromatic components. For this study, we prepared soybeans at different stages of the heating process, i.e., raw, slightly roasted, medium roasted, and deep roasted. Besides, heated soybeans with Fructose and Glysine were compared to heated soybeans without them. The differences in effects that aroma has on brain function were studied, using alpha activity as an indicator. Our results showed medium-roasted soybeans to cause a significant increase in alpha activity. Heated soybeans to which Fructose and Glysine had been added showed significant greater alpha activity than heated soybeans alone. The effects on brain function of the aroma of hops in beer were studied by focusing on the effects of its concentration in beer and the effects' gender differences. Although a significant difference in P300 amplitude was seen between concentrations in males, no such differences were seen in females. We therefore obtained a characteristic finding that, with respect to hops, males were more sensitive to differences in concentration than females. We also studied the differences in the effects on relaxation activity and cognitive function according to the type of coffee beans. It became clear that these effects differed depending on the type of bean. By using these differences and selecting the type of bean to suit a particular purpose, it appears possible to obtain the desired effects of the coffee aroma even more efficiently

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It is said that a tourmaline ring is good for human health, because it emits negative ions. In this paper, the electrical characteristic of a tourmaline ring is examined and a strong relation is clearly shown between the electrical potential of the tourmaline ring surface and the intensity of light which is irradiated on it. Furthermore, it is shown that the change of the surface electrical potential greatly differs with the kind of a light source even for equal illuminance.

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For aromatherapy research, it is necessary to determine how the autonomous nerve system activities are influenced by fragrance. In this paper, the effect of jasmine fragrance on the autonomous nerve system was examined for a subject in terms of changes in HF (high frequency) and LF (low frequency) components of the power spectra of pulse rate fluctuations. The LF component increased significantly (p<0.01), although the HF component had no significant change for the subject. The experimental result suggested that the activity of the parasympathetic nerve was increased by jasmine fragrance.

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We conducted research on heart rate variability (HRV) and oxygen metabolism in brain tissue of the frontal lobe during bathing. We measured the electrocardiogram and blood pressure. The NIRO monitoring device was attached to the subject's frame. The subject then bathed for 20 minutes. Simultaneously with the electrocardiogram, the oxidization hemoglobin concentration of a NIRO monitoring device and TOI were recorded on the data recorder. Quantitative evaluation, statistical handling, and spectrum analysis of data were performed. The data for the 10 minutes before bathing were compared with the data for the 10 minutes after bathing. The heart rate increased significantly during bathing, while blood pressure decreased significantly. Although HF of heart rate variability increased slightly during bathing, it was not significant. Although LF/HF increased slightly during bathing, it was not significant Our research found that blood pressure falls during bathing and the heart rate increases. This is considered due to the peripheral blood vessel being opened by bathing. If a peripheral blood vessel opens, blood vessel resistance will fall. To maintain blood pressure, the heart rate goes up. If the heart rate goes up, cardiac output increases. If cardiac output increases, blood pressure returns. Autonomic nerves play an active part in this process. HF and LF/HF increased slightly. This data supports this reaction. O_2Hb and TOI increased slightly during bathing. This result suggests an increase in brain blood flow. Intellectual activity was not carried out during bathing. It is considered that O_2Hb increased because supply increased. The result of TOI also supported this consideration. Intracerebral bleeding during bathing may originate in the increase in blood flow. The fall of a brain blood flow relates to cerebral infarction. Sick people need to be cautious when bathing.

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