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 under conditions sufficient to produce an improvement in performance by said animal of a cognitive function whose deficit is associated with said CNS disorder;   (b) administering to said animal in conjunction with said cognitive training an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 2; and   (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times, whereby an increased improvement in performance of said cognitive function produced relative to that produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         95 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said CNS disorder is associated with a heritable defect in a CREB pathway. 
     
     
         96 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said CNS disorder is associated with a heritable defect in a biochemical process of long-term memory. 
     
     
         97 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said cognitive deficit is an impairment in memory formation. 
     
     
         98 . The method of  claim 97 , wherein said impairment in memory formation is an impairment in long-term memory formation. 
     
     
         99 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said cognitive deficit is associated with a neurodegenerative disorder. 
     
     
         100 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said cognitive deficit is associated with a psychiatric disorder. 
     
     
         101 . The method of  claim 100 , wherein said psychiatric disorder is selected from the group consisting of: depression, schizophrenia, autism, and attention deficit disorder. 
     
     
         102 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said animal is a human. 
     
     
         103 . The method of  claim 94 , wherein said increased improvement in performance is produced with fewer training sessions compared to that produced by cognitive training alone. 
     
     
         104 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing cognitive training to an animal in need of treatment of a cognitive deficit associated with a trauma-dependent loss of function under conditions sufficient to produce an improvement in performance by said animal of a cognitive function whose deficit is associated with said trauma dependent loss of function;   (b) administering to said animal in conjunction with said cognitive training an inhibitor of phosphodiesterase 2; and   (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times, whereby an increased improvement in performance of said cognitive function is produced relative to that produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         105 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein said trauma-dependent loss of cognitive function is a cerebrovascular disease. 
     
     
         106 . The method of  claim 105 , wherein said cerebrovascular disease is stroke or ischemia. 
     
     
         107 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein said trauma-dependent loss of cognitive function is a head injury or brain injury. 
     
     
         108 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein said animal is a human. 
     
     
         109 . The method of  claim 104 , wherein said increased improvement in performance is produced with fewer training sessions compared to that produced by cognitive training alone. 
     
     
         110 . A method comprising:
 (a) providing cognitive training to an animal in need of treatment of a cognitive deficit associated with 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 phosphodiesterase 2; and   (c) repeating steps (a) and (b) one or more times, whereby an increased improvement in performance of said cognitive function is produced relative to that produced by cognitive training alone.   
     
     
         111 . The method of  claim 98 , wherein said cognitive deficit is an impairment in long-term memory. 
     
     
         112 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein said animal is a human. 
     
     
         113 . The method of  claim 110 , wherein said increased improvement in performance is produced with fewer training sessions compared to that produced by cognitive training alone.