Application of dextro-serine in preparation of medicine for reducing mental migration level of user

Abstract

The invention provides application of dextro-serine in preparation of a medicine for reducing the mental wandering level of a user. The dextro-serine can effectively reduce mental wandering in work memory refreshing, suppression control and cognitive conversion, so that the influence of spontaneous mental wandering (such as distraction, white dreaminess and the like) on related activities in special work, long-time driving, key examination or evaluation, electronic competitions and other high-intensity competitive activities is reduced; and the risk is reduced or the score is improved.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention belongs to the field of behavioral science and relates to the use of dextroserine in preparing a drug for reducing the mind wandering level of a user. Background Art

[0002] Mind wandering refers to the phenomenon in which an individual's attention shifts from the current task to unrelated internal thoughts while performing a task. This phenomenon is very common in daily life and is often manifested as people unconsciously becoming lost in irrelevant thoughts, memories, or emotions while completing a task, commonly known as "mind wandering" or "daydreaming." Research shows that the average person spends 30-50% of their waking time in a state of mind wandering.

[0003] Although mind wandering can provide opportunities for creative thinking and problem-solving in certain situations, it often has a negative impact on task performance in tasks that require high levels of concentration. For example, in tasks such as driving or learning, excessive mind wandering can lead to prolonged task completion time, decreased performance, and increased error rates. Therefore, reducing mind wandering in specific tasks has important practical significance. For example, reducing mind wandering during long driving sessions can significantly reduce the risk of traffic accidents; reducing mind wandering while studying or taking exams can help improve learning efficiency and exam performance. In addition, in special operations or scenarios requiring precise manipulation (such as pilots, astronauts, or special equipment operators), maintaining a stable level of concentration is crucial to ensuring mission success and safety; and in e-sports or other high-intensity competitive activities, reducing mind wandering can effectively improve decision-making efficiency and performance stability. Therefore, the universal effect of drugs in reducing mind wandering has broad and significant application potential.

[0004] Mind wandering is primarily influenced by individual experiences and personal traits, and has a complex interactive relationship with cognitive function, but it does not fall within the narrow scope of cognitive function. Research has shown that mind wandering can significantly affect an individual's cognitive performance, and that individual cognitive abilities can also influence the level of mind wandering, but this effect varies depending on the specific task. For example, individuals with strong working memory abilities exhibit higher levels of mind wandering in low-demand cognitive tasks and lower levels of mind wandering in high-demand tasks.

[0005] It's important to note that mind wandering is distinct from attention in the cognitive realm. Attention primarily refers to an individual's ability to eliminate external distractions and maintain focus, while mind wandering is a spontaneous, internal distraction. While attention and mind wandering interact, there's no inherent causal relationship. Therefore, improving attention doesn't necessarily affect mind wandering levels, and vice versa.

[0006] In summary, intervening in mind wandering has important practical significance in specific tasks, especially in environments that require high concentration. Reducing mind wandering can effectively improve task performance and safety, but its reduction cannot be achieved by improving cognitive ability.

[0007] Currently, the methods known to effectively reduce mind wandering can be divided into two main categories: behavioral intervention and drug intervention.

[0008] 1. Behavioral intervention

[0009] Cognitive training and mindfulness meditation are commonly used interventions for mind wandering. Research has shown that long-term mindfulness meditation practice can significantly reduce the frequency of mind wandering. However, this approach is time-consuming and difficult for many people to adhere to.

[0010] 2. Drug intervention

[0011] Currently, there are few studies investigating pharmacological interventions for mind wandering, and their effectiveness is limited. The only studies that have found a reduction in mind wandering in patients with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) after taking methylphenidate. However, this medication is a prescription medication with significant side effects, making it unsuitable for use in the general population.

[0012] Therefore, developing a drug that reduces the level of mind wandering in users has become an urgent problem to be solved. Summary of the Invention

[0013] In order to solve the above problems, the object of the present invention is to provide the use of dextroserine in the preparation of a drug for reducing the level of mind wandering in users.

[0014] In order to achieve the above object, the present invention provides the use of D-serine in the preparation of a drug for reducing the level of mind wandering in a user.

[0015] Preferably, the dosage of the dextroserine is 2 g / time orally administered to an adult weighing 60-70 kg.

[0016] The beneficial effects of the present invention are:

[0017] The present invention provides the use of dextroserine in the preparation of a drug for reducing the user's mind wandering level. Dextroserine has a rapid onset of action, high safety, and good convenience, and exhibits significant advantages and broad application potential in reducing mind wandering and improving concentration. It can be used in scenarios such as special operations, long-term driving, critical examinations or assessments, e-sports, and other high-intensity competitive activities to reduce the impact of spontaneous mind wandering (such as "distraction" and "daydreaming") on related activities, thereby reducing risks or improving performance. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0018] Figure 1 Flowchart of experimental grouping and pre-experimental preparation for the study of the effects of D-serine supplementation on executive function.

[0019] Figure 2 Flowchart for the working memory refreshing task.

[0020] Figure 3 Flowchart for the inhibitory control task.

[0021] Figure 4 Flowchart of the cognitive switching task.

[0022] Figure 5 The effect of drugs on the frequency of mind wandering. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0023] The embodiments of the present invention will be described in detail and comprehensively below so that the advantages and features of the present invention can be more easily understood by those skilled in the art, thereby making a clearer and more precise definition of the protection scope of the present invention.

[0024] D-serine is one of several dextrorotatory amino acids commonly found in mammals. While D-serine is an isomer of L-serine, its biological functions are distinct from those of L-serine. D-serine does not directly participate in protein synthesis, but rather acts as a co-agonist by binding to N-methyl-D-aspartate receptors (NMDA receptors) in the nervous system. NMDA receptors play a key role in cognitive processes such as learning, memory, and emotion, and therefore D-serine may have significant effects on cognitive function and emotional state.

[0025] Clinical studies have shown that supplementing with D-serine can improve cognitive deficits in patients with schizophrenia. Furthermore, studies in healthy subjects have found that D-serine supplementation can alleviate anxiety and depression and improve cognitive function. These findings suggest that D-serine has potential application in regulating cognition and mood. However, no studies have yet examined whether D-serine can affect individual levels of mind wandering.

[0026] Furthermore, D-serine and phosphatidylserine are two different substances: the former is an amino acid, while the latter is a phospholipid. D-serine is not a functional precursor or analog of phosphatidylserine; the serine used in phosphatidylserine synthesis is L-serine. Furthermore, D-serine and phosphatidylserine have completely different biological functions. Phosphatidylserine is a component of cell membranes and has certain neurotrophic functions. D-serine, on the other hand, can be classified as a neurotransmitter.

[0027] It's also important to note that D-serine and D-cycloserine are different chemicals. While D-cycloserine can bind to NMDA receptors in the body, it's not naturally present in the body. D-cycloserine is currently a prescription anti-tuberculosis drug and is not approved for use in the treatment of psychiatric and emotional problems, let alone for use in healthy individuals.

[0028] Material:

[0029] 1. Purchase D-serine: Brand: Macklin, Product Number: D828331-100g, CAS Number: 312-84-5, Molecular Formula: C3H7NO3.

[0030] Example 1

[0031] In this example, 60 healthy subjects were selected using the GAD-7 (Self-Rating Anxiety Scale), the PHQ-9 (Self-Rating Depression Scale), and the Raven's Standard Reasoning Test. Inclusion criteria included: good health, no history of psychiatric medication use, normal or corrected-to-normal vision, normal intelligence, emotional stability, no red-green color blindness, and right-handedness. All subjects were university students with an average age of 21.33 ± 2.16 years.

[0032] Using SPSS random number analysis, 60 participants were randomly divided into two groups: a D-serine group (n=30, medication group) and a placebo group (n=30). Before the experiment began, researchers explained the study objectives, experimental procedures, precautions, and participant rights in detail to participants, and informed them that they could withdraw from the experiment at any time. All participants participated voluntarily and signed informed consent forms before the experiment began.

[0033] Participants in the D-serine group took 2g of D-serine, while those in the placebo group took identical cornstarch capsules. Two hours after taking the drug or placebo, participants completed three cognitive behavioral tasks: a working memory refresh task (Change Detection Task (CDT), an inhibitory control task (Go / No Go), and a cognitive switching task (More-Odd Switching). These three tasks cover key aspects of executive function: maintaining and updating information, controlling impulses, and rapidly switching between tasks. Executive function can be simply understood as the brain's "command center," responsible for planning steps, focusing attention, and avoiding distractions. Only when this "command system" functions well can complex or repetitive tasks in daily life be successfully completed. Therefore, observing the effects of medications on mind wandering in these three representative executive function tasks can more comprehensively assess the ability to maintain focus and reduce distraction, and provide a basis for the application of medications in other complex tasks requiring sustained attention, such as long-term driving, critical examinations, or specialized operations.

[0034] During the task, the behavioral probe method was used to ask the subjects about their mind wandering in real time to assess their concentration during the task. The specific experimental grouping and pre-experimental preparation process are as follows: Figure 1 shown.

[0035] To ensure the accuracy of the experimental results, participants were prohibited from strenuous exercise or sleep between taking the drug or placebo and the start of the behavioral experiment. This design was intended to minimize external factors from interfering with the experimental results and ensure the reliability and validity of the data.

[0036] 1. Working memory refresh task

[0037] This cognitive task employed the color patch CDT task designed by Vogel and Machizawa (2004). Two levels of cognitive load (2 patches and 4 patches) were set to differentiate task difficulty. The experimental screen background was gray, and the color patches were randomly selected from seven highly saturated colors: red [255, 0, 0], purple [112, 48, 160], blue [0, 112, 192], green [0, 176, 80], yellow [255, 255, 0], black [0, 0, 0], and white [255, 255, 255]. Each patch was 1.23° × 1.23°, and the minimum distance between patches was approximately 2°.

[0038] The experimental program was written in Eprime 3.0 and presented on a monitor with a resolution of 1920×1080. During the experiment, participants were required to maintain a stable body, especially the head, and to fixate their gaze on the center of the screen. All stimuli were presented within a rectangular area measuring 4°×7.3° to the left and right of the fixation point. In each trial, the same number of color blocks (two or four) were presented on the left and right sides, with the blocks randomly positioned. In 50% of the trials, the color of one block in the test array differed from the corresponding item in the memory array; in the remaining trials, the colors of the two arrays were identical. Participants completed the task in a softly lit and comfortable behavioral laboratory, 70 cm from the computer screen.

[0039] Before the experiment began, the subjects were told to stare at the central fixation point and try to control blinking and horizontal saccades following the arrows. Figure 2 As shown: The screen first displays a fixation point (+) and an arrow pointing left or right, indicating the location of the color block to be memorized (left or right). 200ms later, two or four color blocks appear on either side of the fixation point for 100ms, and the subject is required to memorize the colors of these blocks within a short period of time. After a 900ms interval, a test item appears on the screen for 2000ms. The subject is required to determine whether the color of the memorized color block matches the test item according to the direction indicated by the arrow. If the color matches, the subject presses the "Z" key (indicating that the color has not changed); if the color does not match, the subject presses the "M" key (indicating that the color has changed). The experiment requires the subject to maximize the accuracy of the response, with no requirement for reaction speed. If no response is made within 2000ms, the subject automatically proceeds to the next trial. The formal experiment consists of 6 trial blocks, each containing 20 trials, for a total of 120 trials.

[0040] 2. Inhibitory control task (Go / No Go)

[0041] The experimental materials consisted of the Arabic numerals 0, 1, 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, and 9. The stimuli were black, presented one at a time in random order on a gray background in 48-point Courier New font. The stimuli were divided into two categories: target stimuli and deviant stimuli. The target stimuli were the nine numerals other than "3," and the deviant stimuli were the numeral "3." The probability of the target stimuli appearing was 80%, and the probability of the deviant stimuli appearing was 20%.

[0042] The experiment was divided into two parts: the first part was the practice phase, which consisted of 10 trials and one probe interface, aiming to help the subjects become familiar with the experimental process, understand the definition of mind wandering, and correctly answer the questions in the probe interface; the second part was the formal experiment.

[0043] The specific experimental process is as follows Figure 3 As shown:

[0044] 1) A fixation point “+” appears in the center of the screen for 500ms.

[0045] 2) Then, a target stimulus or a deviant stimulus with a digit was presented for 500 ms. To prevent the task from being too easy and leading to expectations, a random blank screen was used for 500–1000 ms after the stimulus presentation.

[0046] 3) When presented with numbers other than "3", the subjects were required to respond by pressing the "J" key as quickly and accurately as possible; when presented with the number "3", the subjects did not make any response.

[0047] 4) Repeat the above process in a cycle.

[0048] The formal experiment consisted of 10 trial blocks, each with 36 trials, for a total of 360 trials. This design aimed to effectively assess the subjects' inhibitory control ability and capture their mind wandering during the task by using high-frequency target stimuli and low-frequency deviant stimuli.

[0049] 3. More-odd Switching (MoS)

[0050] Experiment 3 employed a digit-size-odd-even switching paradigm. The screen background was black, and the stimuli consisted of the numbers 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, 7, 8, and 9, colored red and green, for a total of 16 stimuli. The experiment aimed to assess participants' cognitive switching abilities by switching between different task conditions.

[0051] The specific process of each trial is as follows Figure 4 As shown:

[0052] 1) A “+” fixation dot first appears in the center of the screen for 500ms.

[0053] 2) A random number was then presented at the fixation point for 2000 ms. If the subject did not respond within 2000 ms, the stimulus disappeared, and a 500 ms blank interval followed before the next trial.

[0054] Reaction rules

[0055] The subjects were required to press the key according to the color and value of the number, which was divided into the following three situations:

[0056] 1) Big / Small Judgment: When the number is displayed in red, if the number is less than 5, press the "F" key; if the number is greater than 5, press the "J" key.

[0057] 2) Odd / Even Judgment: When the number is green, if the number is odd, press the "F" key; if the number is even, press the "J" key.

[0058] 3) Big / Small-Odd / Even Conversion Judgment: When the number is red, perform a big / small judgment; when the number is green, perform an odd / even judgment.

[0059] Conditions ① and ② belong to repetition tasks, and condition ③ belongs to switch tasks. In each trial, the probability of the next task being a switch task or a repetition task is equal.

[0060] Experimental design

[0061] Practice phase: Consists of 32 trials, through repeated practice to ensure that the subjects understand the experimental tasks and are familiar with the key-pressing rules.

[0062] The experiment consisted of 256 trials, with 128 trials in each condition (repetition task and switching task). After every 32 trials, a probe screen appeared, asking the subject about their attentional state to assess their level of mind wandering.

[0063] This design effectively assesses the subjects' cognitive flexibility and captures their attention changes during task switching by randomly switching task conditions.

[0064] 4. Measurement of Mind Wandering

[0065] The measurement of mind wandering adopts the behavioral probe method, that is, during the task, probe questions appear at fixed intervals, requiring the subjects to report their mind wandering state in the previous task trial.

[0066] Definition and evaluation criteria

[0067] Before each task, participants were informed of the definition and evaluation criteria for mind wandering. The specific prompts were as follows:

[0068] 1) Fully focused on the task: When a person's attention is firmly focused on the task and they do not think about things unrelated to the task, they are defined as being in the on-task state.

[0069] 2) Complete mind wandering: When a person is thinking about something completely unrelated to the task (such as "what to eat in the evening" or "future plans"), it is defined as a mind wandering state.

[0070] 3) Both: When a person is thinking about the task and things unrelated to the task at the same time, for example, paying enough attention to complete the task but still having "extra resources" to think about other things, it is defined as "both", that is, partly on the task and partly distracted.

[0071] Probe Questions and Scoring

[0072] During the task, the mind wandering probe question uses a five-point Likert scale, and the subjects are required to rate their own state:

[0073] -1 point: Completely focused on the task

[0074] -2 points: Mostly focused on the task

[0075] -3 points: Partially focused on the task, partly distracted

[0076] -4 points: Mostly distracted

[0077] -5 points: Completely distracted

[0078] When the subject scores ≥3 points, it is considered that mind wandering occurs. The formula for calculating the frequency of mind wandering in a task is: Mind wandering frequency = number of mind wandering times / total number of scores in the task

[0079] Number of ratings for each task

[0080] Working Memory Refresh Task (CDT): Scored 6 times

[0081] Inhibitory control task (Go / No Go): 12 scoring times

[0082] More-Odd Switching (MoS): 8 scoring times

[0083] Through the behavioral probe method, the subject's attention state during the task can be captured in real time, providing a quantitative basis for evaluating mind wandering, thereby more accurately analyzing the impact of different intervention methods on mind wandering.

[0084] 5. The results of a wandering mind

[0085] The effects of the drug intervention are shown in Table 1 below. Compared to the placebo group, which also took starch, the drug group demonstrated a lower frequency of mind wandering. Overall, the drug reduced mind wandering by 33.2%. The effects varied across different tasks, with the CDT showing the most significant reduction, at 68.1%, followed by the MoS task, at 30%, and the Go / No-Go task, at 7.5%.

[0086] Table 1

[0087]

[0088] Note: a. Mind wandering frequency = number of mind wanderings / total number of in-task assessments * 100%

[0089] bDrug efficacy = ((drug group frequency - placebo group frequency) / placebo group frequency) * 100%. Further statistical analysis, using a two-way permutation test, yields the following statistical results, as shown in Table 2. As can be seen in Table 2, the main effect of the drug indicates that the drug significantly reduced the frequency of mind wandering across the entire task (p = 0.019). The interaction effect indicates that, while the drug-induced reduction in mind wandering appeared to vary across tasks, no statistically significant difference was achieved (p = 0.157). This further demonstrates the consistency and universality of the effect of dextran on reducing mind wandering across different cognitive tasks.

[0090] Table 2

[0091]

[0092] As can be seen from Tables 1 and 2, this example employed three classic executive function tasks: Working Memory Refresh (CDT), Inhibitory Control (Go / No-Go), and Cognitive Switching (MoS), to measure the subjects' levels of mind wandering while completing different types of cognitive operations. Executive function is the core foundation for individuals to organize, monitor, and regulate their behavior in daily life. Therefore, the observation that dextroserine significantly reduced mind wandering in all three complementary tasks (main effect p=0.019, interaction effect not reaching significance) demonstrates that the drug has consistent intervention potential across a variety of daily tasks, not limited to a single experimental paradigm. This universality provides statistical support for the widespread feasibility of dextroserine in practical applications.

[0093] From the above examples, it can be seen that D-serine can play a role in the following scenarios that require long-term high concentration or rapid recovery of concentration:

[0094] 1. Special operations (such as hazardous materials handling, precision instrument operation, aerospace missions, etc.);

[0095] 2. Driving for long periods of time (e.g. long-distance passenger or freight drivers, train pilots, ship duty officers);

[0096] 3. Key exams or assessments (such as the college entrance exam, postgraduate entrance exam, and professional qualification exams that require sustained concentration);

[0097] 4. E-sports and other high-intensity competitive activities (competitions that require high-level decision-making and operational accuracy in a short period of time).

[0098] In these situations, oral administration of D-serine to rapidly and reliably reduce mind wandering levels has the potential to improve task performance and reduce the risks associated with attentional distraction.

[0099] In addition, as an amino acid naturally present in the human body, dextrorotatory serine has a high safety profile. Existing long-term clinical studies have shown that it does not exhibit obvious side effects, so it has significant advantages in pharmaceutical applications. Oral administration of dextrorotatory serine can quickly take effect within 2 hours and can significantly reduce the individual's level of mind wandering when completing cognitive tasks for a long time (the total duration of the test task is close to 1.5 hours). It has a rapid onset and obvious effects, and is particularly suitable for use in mental tasks that require extremely high concentration.

[0100] Compared to traditional interventions (such as long-term meditation or mindfulness practice), the use of dextroserine overcomes the difficulties of slow onset and difficulty in adherence, providing a more convenient solution for rapidly improving concentration. Furthermore, compared to other potentially effective medications (such as methylphenidate), dextroserine has fewer side effects and can be used in healthy people without a prescription, further broadening its application.

[0101] The present invention provides dextrorotatory serine as a safe and fast-acting intervention for mind wandering, and its effect may be more obvious, especially in working memory-related tasks.

[0102] The above-described embodiments merely illustrate several implementations of the present invention, and while their descriptions are relatively specific and detailed, they should not be construed as limiting the scope of the present invention. It should be noted that a person skilled in the art would be able to make numerous variations and improvements without departing from the spirit of the present invention, all of which fall within the scope of protection of the present invention. Therefore, the scope of protection of the present invention shall be determined by the appended claims.

Claims

1. Use of dextroserine in the preparation of a drug for reducing the level of mind wandering in a user.

2. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The dosage of the dextroserine is 2 g / time orally administered to an adult weighing 60-70 kg.

3. The use according to claim 1, characterized in that The mind wandering occurs during special operations, long periods of driving, critical exams or assessments, e-sports, or high-intensity competitive activities.

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