Digital Spatial Cognition Assessment With Rotating Cues and Hidden Targets
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Solution Overview
Problem
The diagnosis of neurodegenerative disorders such as Alzheimer's disease is complex and time-consuming due to overlapping symptoms, necessitating improved digital biomarkers for early identification of cognitive deficits.
Innovation Solution
A computer-based task involving a two-dimensional stimulus with rotating visual orientation cues and a hidden target requires subjects to indicate the target's location, with data analysis assessing spatial cognition through displacement variations relative to cue separation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If traditional cognitive assessment, neuro-imaging and interviews are used for diagnosis, then diagnostic accuracy is improved, but diagnosis time and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the essential cognitive assessment function from complex traditional batteries and interviews, isolating it into a specific computer-based spatial cognition task that measures goal-seeking behavior and spatial awareness independently, thereby reducing diagnosis time while maintaining accuracy
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the measurement parameters from broad cognitive domains to specific spatial cognition metrics (target location accuracy, cue separation dependency) that can be quantified and analyzed automatically, enabling faster processing without sacrificing diagnostic value
2Reliability
If traditional cognitive assessment batteries, brain imaging or blood/cerebrospinal fluid biomarkers are used, then diagnostic reliability is improved, but cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent creates a digital copy of spatial cognition assessment that replicates the essential measurements needed for diagnosis without requiring physical brain imaging or invasive blood/cerebrospinal fluid biomarker collection, thereby reducing complexity while maintaining reliability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces mechanical and invasive assessment methods (brain imaging, lumbar puncture) with a computer-based digital task that uses software to measure spatial cognition, eliminating the need for complex medical equipment and invasive procedures
3Loss of time
If early identification of cognitive deficits is achieved, then treatment initiation time is improved, but diagnostic sensitivity requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent performs preliminary spatial cognition assessment that can detect early deficits before they manifest in traditional cognitive batteries, allowing treatment initiation to be advanced while maintaining diagnostic sensitivity through targeted measurement of spatial awareness and goal-seeking behavior
Data Source
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Figure 2
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AI summary
A method of assessing spatial cognition of a human subject comprises displaying to the subject on a two-dimension display screen, in at least one sequence of trials, a visual stimulus including a plurality of discrete visual orientation cues, the visual stimulus having a target location defined therein, wherein the rotational orientation of the visual stimulus is varied between trials within a sequence, and wherein the target location is hidden in a least some of the trials; receiving as input from the subject, in each said trial, an indication of the location of the target and recording data representing the displacement between the indicated location of the target and the defined target location in the at least one sequence of trials. There may be a plurality of sequences of trials, wherein an angular cue separation of the visual orientation cues varies between sequences, and the recording step includes recording displacement of the indicated location of the target from the defined target location for different values of said angular cue separation. The variation of displacement with angular cue separation may be analysed against an expected variation to provide an indication of spatial cognition in the subject.