Real-Time DSP-Based Waveform Generator for Brainwave Entrainment

The paper proposes a hardware and software solution for brainwave entrainment based on embedded signal processing. A software application was initially developed and tested in Matlab environment. After the simulation results were validated, the source code was migrated to C language and adapted for a fixed-point real-time DSP implementation. The generated signal is based on a sawtooth carrier whose frequency decreases in time, within the brainwave frequency band (0.5 – 100 Hz). An additional quadrature amplitude modulation is applied in order to generate the two channels and stereo effect. A number of tests were performed in real-time and the results are discussed in the paper.