Neuroplasticity games for addiction
First Claim
1. A computerized reverse conditioning game program for the treatment of a substance addiction, wherein a plurality of addiction-related stimuli that represent one or more substances to which the addiction is directed or settings in which one or more substances to which the addiction is directed are enjoyed are presented to stimulate craving for the substance to which the addiction is directed, the game program comprising:
- a plurality of target stimuli that are not addiction-related;
a plurality of addiction-related distractor stimuli; and
a game manager configured to administer a delay discounting game and exercise by challenging a game participant to selectively respond, through manipulation of a game piece, to the target stimuli, while also challenging the game participant to selectively withhold providing the same response to the distractor stimuli; and
the game manager being further configured to receive the game participant'"'"'s input through the game piece and indicate whether the game participant'"'"'s inputs are appropriate;
wherein the indications encourage the participant to withhold providing a response to the distractor stimuli, thereby reducing the participant'"'"'s craving for the substances to which the participant'"'"'s craving is directed;
the game manager being further configured to assess the game participant'"'"'s level of craving and willingness to delay gratification.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A training program is configured to systematically drive neurological changes to treat an addiction, wherein a plurality of addiction-related stimuli stimulate craving for the object of the addiction. The training program comprises at least one computerized reverse conditioning game configured to present a plurality of target and distractor stimuli, wherein the distractor stimuli are addiction-related stimuli, and prompts a game participant to respond to the target stimuli and ignore the distractor stimuli.
139 Citations
16 Claims
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1. A computerized reverse conditioning game program for the treatment of a substance addiction, wherein a plurality of addiction-related stimuli that represent one or more substances to which the addiction is directed or settings in which one or more substances to which the addiction is directed are enjoyed are presented to stimulate craving for the substance to which the addiction is directed, the game program comprising:
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a plurality of target stimuli that are not addiction-related; a plurality of addiction-related distractor stimuli; and a game manager configured to administer a delay discounting game and exercise by challenging a game participant to selectively respond, through manipulation of a game piece, to the target stimuli, while also challenging the game participant to selectively withhold providing the same response to the distractor stimuli; and the game manager being further configured to receive the game participant'"'"'s input through the game piece and indicate whether the game participant'"'"'s inputs are appropriate; wherein the indications encourage the participant to withhold providing a response to the distractor stimuli, thereby reducing the participant'"'"'s craving for the substances to which the participant'"'"'s craving is directed; the game manager being further configured to assess the game participant'"'"'s level of craving and willingness to delay gratification. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8)
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9. A method of treating a substance addiction, wherein a plurality of addiction-related stimuli that represent one or more substances to which the addiction is directed or settings in which one or more substances to which the addiction is directed are enjoyed are presented to stimulate craving for the substance to which the addiction is directed, the method comprising:
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administering a game to a game participant; presenting a plurality of target and distractor stimuli, wherein the target stimuli are not addiction-related and the distractor stimuli are addiction-related; challenging the game participant to selectively respond, through manipulation of a game piece, to the target stimuli, while also challenging the game participant to selectively withhold providing the same response to the distractor stimuli; and receiving the game participant'"'"'s input through the game piece and indicating whether the game participant'"'"'s inputs are appropriate; wherein the indications encourage the participant to withhold providing a response to the distractor stimuli, thereby reducing the participant'"'"'s craving for the substances to which the participant'"'"'s craving is directed; and assessing the game participant'"'"'s level of craving and willingness to delay gratification. - View Dependent Claims (10, 11, 12, 15, 16)
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13. A method of treating a substance addiction, wherein a plurality of addiction-related stimuli that represent one or more substances to which the addiction is directed or settings in which one or more substances to which the addiction is directed are enjoyed are presented to stimulate craving for the substance to which the addiction is directed, the method comprising:
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administering a time tracking game to a game participant; presenting a plurality of target and distractor stimuli, wherein the target stimuli are not addiction-related and the distractor stimuli are addiction-related; challenging the game participant to keep track of time and to selectively respond, through manipulation of a game piece, to the target stimuli, while also challenging the game participant to selectively withhold providing the same response to the distractor stimuli; and receiving the game participant'"'"'s input through the game piece and indicating whether the game participant'"'"'s inputs are appropriate; wherein the indications encourage the participant to withhold providing a response to the distractor stimuli, thereby reducing the participant'"'"'s craving for the substances to which the participant'"'"'s craving is directed.
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14. A method of treating a substance addiction, wherein a plurality of addiction-related stimuli that represent one or more substances to which the addiction is directed or settings in which one or more substances to which the addiction is directed are enjoyed are presented to stimulate craving for the substance to which the addiction is directed, the method comprising:
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administering a game to a game participant; presenting a plurality of target and distractor stimuli, wherein the target stimuli are not addiction-related and the distractor stimuli are addiction-related; challenging the game participant to selectively respond, through manipulation of a game piece, to the target stimuli, while also challenging the game participant to selectively withhold providing the same response to the distractor stimuli, and to indicate whether a target stimulus was present in a plurality of stimuli, one or more of which was selected to stimulate craving for the object of the addiction, wherein the target stimulus is not related to the substance to which the addiction is directed; receiving the game participant'"'"'s input through the game piece and indicating whether the game participant'"'"'s inputs are appropriate; wherein the indications encourage the participant to withhold providing a response to the distractor stimuli, thereby reducing the participant'"'"'s craving for the substances to which the participant'"'"'s craving is directed.
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Specification