The app is designed to be the centrepiece of a ‘citizen science’ project called GammaGen. The project makes use of recent research into the application of induced brain waves at a frequency of 40 Hz (‘gamma waves’) to affect the accumulation and distribution of amyloid plaques in mammalian brains (mice in the research). The build-up of amyloid plaques in the brain is associated with Alzheimer’s Disease. The aim of this project is to enable people with the disease, or with genetic factors that make them high risk of acquiring the disease, to engage in a benign potential therapy while at the same time helping to accumulate data in the effectiveness of the treatment. The app will produce coloured light flashing at 40Hz on the screen, at the same time producing a 40Hz tone from the device’s audio circuits. The app will be intended to be used with a simple VR headset (Google Cardboard or similar) and a pair of ordinary headphones. The app opens with the Home screen, briefly describing the app and with a link to the website (gammagen.org) for more information. User chooses to login or register. Once the user has registered and their data have been sent to the database, they proceed to the sessions setting screen. If a user’s login details have been accepted by the database the app checks that their last session was more than 18 hours previously. If it wasn’t the app shows a suitable message and returns the user to the Home screen. If more than 18 hours have elapsed since their previous session the user proceeds to the session settings screen.
In the session setting screen the user can choose to have either light or sound or both. Once the user has chosen the settings they are free to press ‘Start’ at a moment of their choice.
When the user presses ‘Start’ a visible countdown on the screen begins, from 60 seconds. This gives the user time to insert their device into the VR headset, insert the headphones and get comfortable for the session to begin.
The session comprises 60 minutes of light flashing at 40Hz with random changes of colour to maintain interest, as well as a 40Hz continuous tone played at moderate volume.
The session is timed to last 60 minutes. After that the session ends, the session data are sent to the database and the user proceeds to the Home screen.