Cognitive Assessment Plateau Detection From Early Trial Variability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing neuropsychological assessments are hindered by practice effects, leading to underestimation of disease progression or overestimation of treatment efficacy due to improvements in performance over repeated trials, making it difficult to determine a person's true cognitive ability without extensive pre-training.
Innovation Solution
A cognitive performance determination apparatus and method that analyzes performance variability and curve fitting to identify a performance plateau, selecting trials representative of a person's actual cognitive capability by calculating model fits and performance variability between consecutive pairs of trials, allowing for efficient assessment without requiring a full plateau to be reached.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If a person undergoes extensive pre-training to reach performance plateau before assessment, then measurement precision of cognitive ability improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system performs preliminary analysis of performance variability and curve fitting during the initial trials to predict when the performance plateau will be reached, allowing the assessment to be timed optimally without requiring extensive pre-training sessions
Solution Approach 2:
The system continuously monitors performance variability between consecutive trials and uses curve fitting feedback to determine when the performance plateau has been reached, enabling dynamic adjustment of the assessment timing to achieve accurate measurements efficiently
2Measurement precision
If multiple trials are conducted to account for practice effects, then measurement precision improves, but loss of time increases
Solution Approach 1:
The system analyzes performance variability from a limited number of consecutive trials rather than requiring all trials to be completed, using curve fitting to extrapolate the performance plateau and select representative trials for assessment
Solution Approach 2:
The system extracts the essential information needed for accurate cognitive assessment by identifying and selecting only the trials that represent the performance plateau, discarding the unnecessary trials that would otherwise be required
3Measurement precision
If performance plateau is waited for before assessment, then measurement precision improves, but productivity decreases
Solution Approach 1:
The system replaces the mechanical approach of waiting for performance plateau with computational curve fitting and variability analysis, using mathematical models to predict and identify plateau trials without requiring actual waiting time
Solution Approach 2:
The system performs preliminary curve fitting and variability analysis during trial execution to predict the performance plateau in advance, allowing the assessment to be prepared and timed optimally without delay
Data Source
AI summary
The present invention relates to a cognitive performance determination apparatus (10), comprising: —an input unit (20); and—a processing unit (30). The input unit is configured to provide the processing unit with results of a plurality of trials of a test, wherein the results of each trial is generated by a person undertaking a plurality of events of each trial. The processing unit is configured to determine a plurality of performance values for the results of the plurality of trials of the test, wherein a performance value is determined for each trial of the plurality of trials. The processing unit is configured to determine information about the person, and wherein the determination of the information about the person comprises a calculation of a curve of a model fit to at least some of the plurality of performance values and/or the determination of the information about the person comprises a calculation of performance variability between at least one consecutive pair of performance values.