Vision and cognition testing and/or training under stress conditions

• US 9,564,058 B2
• Filed: 05/08/2008
• Issued: 02/07/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2008
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nike International Ltd. (Nike, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: Nike, Inc.
• Inventors: Reichow, Alan W., Yoo, Herb
• Primary Examiner(s): EISEMAN, ADAM JARED
• Application Number:
  US12/117,315
• Publication Number:
  US 20090281450A1
• Time in Patent Office: 3,197 Days
• Field of Search: 600/300, 600/301, 600/544, 600/545, 600/558, 600/559, 600587-595, 601 23- 45, 482 1- 9
• US Class Current: 1/1
• 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: A63B 2022/0635 specially adapted for a particular use
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 2023/0411 Squatting exercises
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 21/06 User-manipulated weights
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/02 with movable endless bands , e.g. treadmills other training appliances for running on the spot A63B69/0028
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0605 performing a circular movement, e.g. ergometers
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 22/0664 performing an elliptic movement
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/0405 involving a bending of the knee and hip joints simultaneously A63B23/0476 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 23/1209 Involving a bending of elbow and shoulder joints simultaneously
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 24/0087 Electric or electronic controls for exercising apparatus of groups A63B21/00 - A63B23/00, e.g. controlling load
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/06 Indicating or scoring devices for games or players , or for other sports activities
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0619 Displays, user interfaces and indicating devices, specially adapted for sport equipment, e.g. display mounted on treadmills
• CPC Class Codes: A63B 71/0622 Visual, audio or audio-visual systems for entertaining, instructing or motivating the user
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 19/0038 Sports
• CPC Class Codes: G09B 7/00 Electrically-operated teaching apparatus or devices working with questions and answers mechanically operated G09B3/00; computing arrangements G06F
• 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

Abstract

The visual and cognitive skills of a subject may be tested and/or trained by providing a visual stimulus to a subject. More particularly, a subject may be tested and/or trained when under a stress condition to determine the effect of a stress condition, such as a physical stress or a cognitive stress, on the subject'"'"'s visual and sensory skills. A response may be received from a subject via an input device, the appropriateness of which may depend upon the stimulus provided to the subject. Behavioral information and other data regarding the performance of a subject and the possible effect of the stress condition may be recorded. Scoring may be based upon the speed, accuracy, and other aspects of the performance of a subject.

Claims

1. A method for improving athletic performance, the method comprising:

subjecting a test subject to a stress condition comprising at least one of an aerobic or anaerobic activity using a first apparatus comprising a stress-inducing device; and

providing a test to the test subject using a second apparatus comprising;

a test unit;

a display device communicatively coupled to the test unit, and

at least one of a head monitor and an eye monitor communicatively coupled to the test unit and used to monitor corresponding movement of the test subject, wherein the first and second apparatuses are distinct,

wherein the test comprises;

displaying a visual stimulus to the test subject on the display device;

determining a correct response to the visual stimulus by the test subject;

receiving a response from the test subject at an input device;

capturing at least one of head and eye movement of the test subject from the at least one of the head and eye monitors;

determining if the response is the correct response; and

calculating a score based on the response being correct or incorrect and a degree of head or eye movement of the test subject captured by the at least one of the head and eye monitors.

2. The method of claim 1, wherein the stress condition further comprises a sound emitted from a speaker.

3. The method of claim 1, wherein the stress-inducing device is a device for one of running, cycling, and elliptical training.

4. The method of claim 1, further comprising ending the stress condition on the test subject prior to displaying the visual stimulus and receiving the response from the test subject.

5. The method of claim 1, further comprising ending the stress condition on the test subject after receiving the response from the test subject.

6. The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the test subject to the stress condition occurs simultaneously to displaying the visual stimulus to the test subject.

7. The method of claim 1, wherein subjecting the test subject to the stress condition occurs simultaneously to displaying the visual stimulus to the test subject and receiving the response from the test subject.

8. The method of claim 1, wherein the test further comprises emitting a sound from a location about the test subject, wherein the response received from the test subject further comprises an indication of a direction of the sound, and wherein the score is further calculated based on the indication of the direction of the sound.

9. The method of claim 1, wherein receiving a response from the test subject comprises receiving an input from an audio input device.

10. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual stimulus comprises an indicia testing the vision of the test subject.

11. The method of claim 1, wherein the visual stimulus comprises an indicia testing the cognition of the test subject.

12. The method of claim 11, wherein the visual indicia comprises an arithmetic test.

13. The method of claim 11, wherein the visual indicia comprises a verbal test.

14. The method of claim 11, wherein the visual indicia comprises a directional test.

15. A method for testing and/or training athletic performance, the method comprising:

subjecting a test subject to a stress condition comprising a physical stress using a first apparatus comprising a stress-inducing device; and

providing a test to the test subject using a second apparatus,

wherein the test comprises;

emitting an auditory stimulus to the test subject from an audio device associated with the second apparatus;

determining a correct response to the auditory stimulus based on a direction of origin of the auditory stimulus;

receiving a response from the test subject;

capturing at least one of head and eye movement of the test subject from at least one of a head monitor and an eye monitor associated with the second apparatus;

determining if the response is the correct response, the correct response being at least the direction of origin of the auditory stimulus; and

calculating a score based on the response being correct or incorrect and a degree of head or eye movement of the test subject received from the at least one of the head and eye monitors.