Augmented cognitive training

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of therapy of cognitive deficits associated with a central nervous system disorder or condition, methods of enhancing cognitive performance and methods for repeated stimulation of neuronal activity or a pattern of neuronal activity, such as that underlying a specific neuronal circuit(s). The methods comprise combining cognitive training protocols and a general administration of CREB pathway-enhancing agents.

1 - 93 . (canceled) 
     
     
         94 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing cognitive training to an animal in need of treatment of a cognitive deficit associated with a CNS disorder or condition under conditions sufficient to produce an improvement in performance by said animal of a cognitive function whose deficit is associated with said CNS disorder or condition;   (b) administering to said animal in conjunction with said cognitive training an inhibitor of a phosphodiesterase 2;   (c) repeating said providing and said administering of steps (a) and (b) one or more times; and   (d) producing a long-lasting improvement in performance of said function relative to the improvement in performance of said function produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said CNS disorder or condition is associated with a heritable defect in the CREB pathway. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said CNS disorder or condition is associated with a heritable defect in the biochemical process of long-term memory. 
     
     
         97 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing cognitive training to an animal in need of treatment of a cognitive deficit associated with an age associated memory impairment under conditions sufficient to produce an improvement in performance by said animal of a cognitive function whose deficit is associated with said age associated memory impairment;   (b) administering to said animal in conjunction with said cognitive training an inhibitor of a phosphodiesterase 2;   (c) repeating said providing and said administering of steps (a) and (b) one or more times; and   (d) producing a long-lasting improvement in performance of said function relative to the improvement in performance of said function produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         98 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing cognitive training to an animal in need of treatment of a cognitive deficit associated with a neurodegenerative disorder under conditions sufficient to produce an improvement in performance by said animal of a cognitive function whose deficit is associated with said neurodegenerative disorder;   (b) administering to said animal in conjunction with said cognitive training an inhibitor of a phosphodiesterase 2;   (c) repeating said providing and said administering of steps (a) and (b) one or more times; and   (d) reducing the number of training sessions sufficient to produce said improvement in performance relative to the improvement in performance produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is associated with a heritable defect in the CREB pathway. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said neurodegenerative disorder is associated with a heritable defect in the biochemical process of long-term memory. 
     
     
         101 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing cognitive training to an animal in need of treatment of a cognitive deficit associated with a psychiatric disorder under conditions sufficient to produce an improvement in performance by said animal of a cognitive function whose deficit is associated with said psychiatric disorder;   (b) administering to said animal in conjunction with said cognitive training an inhibitor of a phosphodiesterase 2;   (c) repeating said providing and said administering of steps (a) and (b) one or more times; and   (d) reducing the number of training sessions sufficient to produce said improvement in performance relative to the improvement in performance produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein said psychiatric disorder is an anxiety disorder or condition. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein said psychiatric disorder is associated with a heritable defect in the CREB pathway. 
     
     
         104 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein said psychiatric disorder is associated with a heritable defect in the biochemical process of long-term memory. 
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 101 , wherein said psychiatric disorder is selected from the group consisting of: depression, schizophrenia, autism, and attention deficit disorder.