Systems and methods for monitoring, evaluation, and treatment

• US 10,424,212 B2
• Filed: 09/02/2015
• Issued: 09/24/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Yale University
• Original Assignee: Yale University
• Inventors: Wexler, Bruce E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Fletcher, Jerry-Daryl
• Application Number:
  US14/843,708
• Publication Number:
  US 20160042649A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,483 Days
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 5/00 Electrically-operated educational appliances working with questions and answers G09B7/00; simulators G09B9/00; advertising or displaying in general G09F
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/02 of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/04 characterised by modifying the teaching programme in response to a wrong answer, e.g. repeating the question, supplying a further explanation

Abstract

A computer-implemented method, a computer program product, and a system are provided. A plurality of multi-level cognitive exercises are provided to an individual. Each of the multi-level cognitive exercises includes at least one task to perform. The individual is requested to respond to a cognitive exercise in the plurality of cognitive exercises by performing the at least one task contained in the cognitive exercise. A response provided by the individual to the cognitive exercise is monitored. Based on the monitoring, a determination is made whether the individual performed the at least one task at a predetermined performance level, wherein the performance level is defined by the at least one task contained in the cognitive exercise. Based on the determining, the individual is requested to perform at least another task. At least one activity for the individual to perform is generated. The at least one activity is based on responses to the multi-level cognitive exercises by the individual.

Claims

1. A computerized system for providing individualized brain training to an individual using a computer-implemented multi-level cognitive exercise, wherein each level above a first level of the multi-level cognitive exercise has a task configuration of increased cognitive complexity, increased cognitive difficulty, or challenges a different cognitive component compared to an immediately preceding level, the system comprising:

at least one storage device configured to store computer-executable instructions for the multi-level cognitive exercise;

a display configured to display a graphical user interface, wherein the graphical user interface is configured to display a visualization associated with the multi-level cognitive exercise; and

at least one computer processor programmed to;

provide in the first level of the multi-level cognitive exercise, a task for the individual to perform by displaying on the graphical user interface a plurality of objects with which the individual is instructed to interact to perform the task;

receive a plurality of responses from the individual via the graphical user interface as the individual performs the task within the first level by interacting with the plurality of objects displayed on the graphical user interface;

continuously track a performance of the task by the individual within the first level by adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task within the first level based, at least in part, on an accuracy of the plurality of received responses;

determine during the continuous tracking of the performance of the task by the individual within the first level, whether the performance of the task by the individual in the first level satisfies a graduation criterion or a plateau criterion for the multi-level cognitive exercise,

wherein the graduation criterion specifies a number of correct responses received when the component of the task is set to a highest difficulty setting within a current level of the multi-level cognitive exercise, and

wherein the plateau criterion specifies a metric by which it is determined that performance of the task by the individual within the current level is not continuing to improve prior to satisfying the graduation criterion; and

advance the multi-level cognitive exercise from the first level to a second level of the multi-level cognitive exercise when it is determined that the performance of the task by the individual in the first level satisfies the graduation criterion or the plateau criterion,

wherein advancing the multi-level cognitive exercise from the first level to the second level comprises providing, via the graphical user interface, a modified task for the individual to perform,

wherein the modified task has increased cognitive complexity, increased cognitive difficulty, or challenges a different cognitive component compared to the task performed in the first level, and

wherein providing, via the graphical user interface, the modified task for the individual to perform comprises, compared to providing the task in the first level, one or more of displaying additional objects on the graphical user interface, changing a manner in which the plurality of objects are displayed, and increasing a complexity of a rule for performing the task.

2. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the at least one processor is further programmed to:

continuously track a performance of the modified task by the individual within the second level by adjusting a difficulty of a component of the modified task within the second level based, at least in part, on an accuracy of a plurality of responses received from the individual as the individual performs the modified task within the second level;

determine during continuous tracking of the performance of the modified task by the individual within the second level, whether the performance of the modified task by the individual in the second level satisfies the graduation criterion or the plateau criterion; and

advance the multi-level cognitive exercise from the second level to a third level of the multi-level cognitive exercise when it is determined that the performance of the modified task by the individual in the second level satisfies the graduation criterion or the plateau criterion for the multi-level cognitive exercise.

3. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the modified task introduces an increased cognitive complexity compared to the task provided in the first level by increasing a number of objects displayed on the graphical user interface during performance of the modified task.

4. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the modified task introduces an increased cognitive complexity compared to the task provided in the first level by increasing a complexity of a rule for performing the task.

5. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the modified task introduces an increased cognitive complexity compared to the task provided in the first level by changing a manner in which the plurality of objects are displayed on the graphical user interface during performance of the modified task.

6. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the modified task introduces an increased cognitive complexity compared to the task provided in the first level by introducing additional distractor components via the graphical user interface that the individual is instructed to ignore during performance of the modified task.

7. The computer system of claim 1, wherein adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task comprises adjusting an amount of time during which the individual has available to perform the task.

8. The computer system of claim 1, wherein adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task comprises increasing a speed of the component when a first number of consecutive correct responses is received and decreasing the speed of the component when a second number of consecutive incorrect responses is received.

9. The computer system of claim 8, wherein the first number and the second number are different.

10. The computer system of claim 1, wherein the metric specified for the plateau criterion is a number of times the difficulty setting of the component of the task has alternated between two difficulty settings of the component of the task in the current level without advancing to a greater difficulty setting.

11. A computer-implemented method of providing individualized brain training to an individual using an computer-implemented multi-level cognitive exercise, wherein each level above a first level of the multi-level cognitive exercise has a task configuration of increased cognitive complexity compared to an immediately preceding level, the method comprising:

storing, on at least one storage device, computer-executable instructions for the multi-level cognitive exercise;

providing in the first level of the multi-level cognitive exercise, a task for the individual to perform by displaying on a graphical user interface, a plurality of objects with which the individual is instructed to interact to perform the task;

receiving a plurality of responses from the individual via the graphical user interface as the individual performs the task within the first level by interacting with the plurality of objects displayed on the graphical user interface;

continuously tracking a performance of the task by the individual within the first level by adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task within the first level based, at least in part, on an accuracy of the plurality of received responses;

determining during the continuous tracking of the performance of the task by the individual in the first level whether the performance of the task by the individual in the first level satisfies a graduation criterion or a plateau criterion for the multi-level cognitive exercise,

wherein the graduation criterion specifies a number of correct responses received when the component of the task is set to a highest difficulty setting within a current level of the multi-level cognitive exercise, and

wherein the plateau criterion specifies a metric by which it is determined that performance of the task by the individual within the current level is not continuing to improve prior to satisfying the graduation criterion; and

advancing the multi-level cognitive exercise from the first level to a second level of the multi-level cognitive exercise when it is determined that the performance of the task by the individual in the first level satisfies the graduation criterion or the plateau criterion,

wherein advancing the multi-level cognitive exercise from the first level to the second level comprises providing, via the graphical user interface, a modified task for the individual to perform,

wherein the modified task has increased cognitive complexity, increased cognitive difficulty, or challenges a different cognitive component compared to the task performed in the first level, and

wherein providing, via the graphical user interface, the modified task for the individual to perform comprises, compared to providing the task in the first level, one or more of displaying additional objects on the graphical user interface, changing a manner in which the plurality of objects are displayed, and increasing a complexity of a rule for performing the task.

12. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the modified task introduces an increased cognitive complexity compared to the task provided in the first level by:

(i) increasing a number of objects displayed on the graphical user interface during performance of the modified task;

(ii) increasing a complexity of a rule for performing the task;

(iii) changing a manner in which the plurality of objects are displayed on the graphical user interface during performance of the modified task;

(iv) introducing additional distractor components provided via the graphical user interface, that the individual is instructed to ignore during performance of the modified task;

or

(v) any combination of one or more of (i)-(iv).

13. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task comprises adjusting an amount of time during which the individual has available to perform the task.

14. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task comprises increasing a speed of the component when a first number of consecutive correct responses is received and decreasing the speed of the component when a second number of consecutive incorrect responses is received.

15. The computer-implemented method of claim 14, wherein the first number and the second number are different.

16. The computer-implemented method of claim 11, wherein the metric specified for the plateau criterion is a number of times the difficulty setting of the component of the task has alternated between two difficulty settings in the current level without advancing to a higher difficulty setting.

17. A non-transitory computer readable medium encoded with a plurality of instructions that, when executed by at least one computer processor, perform a method of providing individualized brain training to an individual using an computer-implemented multi-level cognitive exercise, wherein each level above a first level of the multi-level cognitive exercise has a task configuration of increased cognitive complexity, increased cognitive difficulty, or challenges a different cognitive component compared to an immediately preceding level, the method comprising:

storing, on at least one storage device, computer-executable instructions for the multi-level cognitive exercise;

providing in the first level of the multi-level cognitive exercise, a task for the individual to perform by displaying on a graphical user interface, a plurality of objects with which the individual is instructed to interact to perform the task;

receiving a plurality of responses from the individual via the graphical user interface as the individual performs the task within the first level by interacting with the plurality of objects displayed on the graphical user interface;

continuously tracking a performance of the task by the individual within the first level by adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task within the first level based, at least in part, on an accuracy of the plurality of received responses;

determining during the continuous tracking of the performance of the task by the individual in the first level whether the performance of the task by the individual in the first level satisfies a graduation criterion or a plateau criterion for the multi-level cognitive exercise,

wherein the graduation criterion specifies a number of correct responses received when the component of the task is set to a highest difficulty setting within a current level of the multi-level cognitive exercise, and

wherein the plateau criterion specifies a metric by which it is determined that performance of the task by the individual within the current level is not continuing to improve prior to satisfying the graduation criterion; and

advancing the multi-level cognitive exercise from the first level to a second level of the multi-level cognitive exercise when it is determined that the performance of the task by the individual in the first level satisfies the graduation criterion or the plateau criterion,

wherein advancing the multi-level cognitive exercise from the first level to the second level comprises providing, via the graphical user interface, a modified task for the individual to perform,

wherein the modified task has increased cognitive complexity, increased cognitive difficulty, or challenges a different cognitive component compared to the task performed in the first level, and

wherein providing, via the graphical user interface, the modified task for the individual to perform comprises, compared to providing the task in the first level, one or more of displaying additional objects on the graphical user interface, changing a manner in which the plurality of objects are displayed, and increasing a complexity of a rule for performing the task.

18. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the modified task introduces an increased cognitive complexity compared to the task provided in the first level by:

(i) increasing a number of objects displayed on the graphical user interface during performance of the modified task;

(ii) increasing a complexity of a rule for performing the task;

(iii) changing a manner in which the plurality of objects are displayed on the graphical user interface during performance of the modified task;

(iv) introducing additional distractor components provided via the graphical user interface, that the individual is instructed to ignore during performance of the modified task;

or

(v) any combination of one or more of (i)-(iv).

19. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein adjusting a difficulty setting of a component of the task comprises adjusting an amount of time during which the individual has available to perform the task.

20. The computer readable medium of claim 17, wherein the metric specified for the plateau criterion is a number of times the difficulty setting of the component of the task has alternated between two difficulty settings in the current level without advancing to a faster difficulty setting.