System and program for cognitive skill training

Abstract

This invention enables targeting, personalized measurement, and management of cognitive skills development by users, clinicians, teachers, and parents. The invention features a game based virtual learning curriculum for targeting and developing the underlying cognitive skills of executive functions. The methods and systems of the invention provide an effective and rapid video game-based training curriculum to improve the cognitive skills such as focused attention, sustained attention, cognitive inhibition, behavioral inhibition, selective attention, alternating attention, divided attention, interference control, novelty inhibition, delay of gratification, inner voice, motivational inhibition, and self-regulation. This curriculum utilizes: (i) each of the cognitive processes that underlie attention control and impulse inhibition; (ii) the identification of measurable and trainable cognitive skills; and (iii) game design and game mechanics that effectively train and enable retention of those skills. The game-based system provides a medical professional, clinician, parent, teacher and user with the ability to measure and manage training of targeted cognitive skills to reach a desiredperformance goal.

Description

Background technique [0001] Executive function is the cognitive process that enables us to accomplish tasks such as organizing our thoughts, making future plans, and engaging in problem solving. Executive function skills have been shown to be the foundation of critical learning and academic achievement. [0002] During infancy and normal early childhood development, neural networks of executive functions develop naturally in young children and gradually grow and refine into distributed neural networks. Difficulties in the development of executive functions, such as attentional skills stemming from impairment of cognitive processes in neural networks, are largely due to genetic inheritance following experiential events (Casey et al., DevPsychobiol 40(2002):237-254). Underdevelopment of these cognitive skills prevents children from being able to function in a coordinated way, such as receiving and comprehending new information or completing school tasks. Basic abilities such a...

AI Technical Summary

Problems solved by technology

Obvious limitations of neurofeedback are that training is time consuming and relies on a subject matching his or her EEG signal to a "normal" population template, which depends on wide complex variability

While the subject's attempts to modulate their brain activity may reinforce the most affected parts of ADHD, it is difficult for users to repeatedly manage their brain activity over extended periods of time and, most importantly, neurofeedback does not isolate and target the causes of learning and academic performance. Key Cognitive Processes Underlying Achievement in Executive Function

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