Remote computer-implemented methods for cognitive and perceptual testing

• US 6,565,359 B2
• Filed: 01/27/2000
• Issued: 05/20/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 01/29/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Lumos Labs, Inc.
• Original Assignee: Scientific Learning Corp. (Carnegie Learning, Inc.)
• Inventors: Merzenich, Michael M., Calhoun, Barbara, Peterson, Bret E.
• Primary Examiner(s): Hughes, S. Thomas
• Assistant Examiner(s): ADAMS, CHANDA L
• Application Number:
  US09/492,259
• Publication Number:
  US 20030059759A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,209 Days
• Field of Search: 434/236, 434/350, 434/322, 434/323, 434/258, 600/300
• US Class Current: 434/236
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/0022 Monitoring a patient using a global network, e.g. telephone networks, internet
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/16 Devices for psychotechnics using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00; Testing reaction times ; Devices for evaluating the psychological state
• CPC Class Codes: A61B 5/4094 Diagnosing or monitoring seizure diseases, e.g. epilepsy
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 10/20 for electronic clinical trials or questionnaires
• CPC Class Codes: G16H 40/67 for remote operation

Abstract

The present invention relates to a computer-implemented methods and apparatus for remote cognitive and/or perceptual testing using a computer network having a remote computer geographically separate from an administering computer. The remote cognitive and/or perceptual testing includes administering a set of cognitive and/or perceptual tests, obtaining a performance response of the person to the tests and uploading the testing information via the computer network. The tests may be administered a number of times to evaluate one or more cognitive skills and/or perceptual abilities. Parallel to the testing, a therapy may be administered. The method may also include monitoring the performance of the person on the tests. The computer-implemented method may additionally include administering a set of initial tests before therapy inception to assess a person'"'"'s intrinsic cognitive skills and/or perceptual abilities. The results of the initial testing and testing during therapy may be entered into a database. The database may be built from the performance response of multiple people and may be useful in predicting efficacy of a proposed therapy.

Claims

1. A computer-implemented method for remotely administering perceptual testing on a human subject, said method being implemented using a computer network having a monitoring computer and a remote administering computer, said remote administering computer being geographically remote from said monitoring computer and local to said human subject, said method comprising:

performing (a) and (b) a number of times effective to evaluate at least one perceptual ability of said human subject;

a) administering, using a remote computer-implemented approach, at least one perceptual test to said human subject, and

b) obtaining, using said remote administering computer, at least one performance response of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test;

monitoring the obtained at least one performance response of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test, including monitoring for one of an efficacy of a therapy program and side effects of said therapy program;

uploading testing information including said performance response from said administering computer via said computer network; and

adapting said at least one perceptual test in response to said testing information.

2. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) are repeatedly performed to attain a number of times effective to evaluate said at least one perceptual ability of said human subject.

3. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) are performed once to attain a number of times effective to evaluate said at least one perceptual ability of said human subject.

4. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including administering at least one initial perceptual test to said human subject.

5. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 4 wherein said initial perceptual test includes a perceptual test that tests for a perceptual ability that is substantially affected by a therapy program to be administered to said human subject.

6. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) are performed on a daily basis.

7. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 6 wherein (a) and (b) are performed on a daily basis to evaluate a progression of one of a degenerative disease or illness.

8. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) are performed at substantially the same time each day.

9. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including monitoring the obtained performance responses of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test.

10. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 9 wherein said monitoring the obtained performance responses includes monitoring for discrepancies in at least one perceptual ability relative to an expected performance based on prior testing of a past human subject in said at least one perceptual test.

11. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein (a) and (b) are repeated for a duration that is longer than the duration of a therapy program.

12. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said at least one initial perceptual test includes a perceptual initial test that may be adapted.

13. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein adapting said at least one perceptual test includes altering at least one parameter of said at least one perceptual test.

14. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein a different perceptual test is employed in different iterations of (a) and (b).

15. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 14 wherein the different perceptual test employed in different iterations of (a) and (b) is selected based on prior performance of the subject in a previous iteration of (a) and (b) for said at least one perceptual test.

16. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including uploading said testing information to a monitoring site.

17. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 16 further including transferring said testing information to another location other than said monitoring site.

18. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including building a database.

19. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein the database includes data from initial perceptual testing, demographic information on said human subject, said at least one perceptual test and said performance response.

20. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 18 further including providing information from said database to said user.

21. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 20 wherein providing said information from said database to said user is used for self-evaluation by said user.

22. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 18 wherein the database is used in assessment of one of a biochemical based therapy program or a behavioral therapy program.

23. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said at least one perceptual test includes one of a visual test, an auditory test, vestibular test and a somatosensory test.

24. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 wherein said at least one perceptual test includes a pop-out test.

25. The remote computer-implemented method of claim 1 further including administering at least one initial perceptual test to said human subject before inception of said therapy program.

26. A computer readable medium including instructions for remotely administering perceptual testing on a human subject, said method being implemented using a computer network having a monitoring computer and a remote administering computer, said remote administering computer being geographically remote from said monitoring computer and local to said human subject, said instructions comprising:

instructions for performing (a) and (b) a number of times effective to evaluate at least one perceptual ability of said human subject;

a) administering, using a remote computer-implemented approach, at least one perceptual test to said human subject, and

b) obtaining, using said remote administering computer, a performance response of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test;

instructions for monitoring the obtained at least one performance response of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test, including monitoring for one of an efficacy of a therapy program and side effects of said therapy program;

instructions for uploading testing information including said performance response from said administering computer via said computer network; and

instructions for adapting said at least one perceptual test in response to said testing information.

27. A computer-implemented method for delivering computer readable instructions for remotely administering perceptual testing on a human subject, said method being implemented using a computer network having a monitoring computer and a remote administering computer, said remote administering computer being geographically remote from said monitoring computer and local to said human subject, said instructions comprising:

transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for performing (a) and (b) below a number of times effective to evaluate at least one perceptual ability of said human subject;

a) administering, using a remote computer-implemented approach, at least one perceptual test to said human subject, and

b) obtaining, using said remote administering computer, a performance response of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test;

transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for monitoring the obtained at least one performance response of said human subject in said at least one perceptual test, including monitoring for one of an efficacy of a therapy program and side effects of said therapy program;

transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for uploading testing information including said performance response from said administering computer via said computer network; and

transmitting, over a signal transmission medium, signals representative of instructions for adapting said at least one perceptual test in response to said testing information.