Methods of Enhancing Performance on a Cognitive Task by Improved Self-Regulation of Internal Distraction and Computer Readable Medium and Devices for Practicing the Same

Abstract

Provided are methods of enhancing the performance of a subject on a cognitive task by improved self-regulation of internal distraction. The methods include presenting a computer-based cognitive training program to a subject, where performance of the subject on the cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program. Computer readable media and devices useful for practicing the methods of the present disclosure are also provided.

1 .- 30 . (canceled) 
     
     
         31 . A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing a computer device to present a cognitive training program to a subject, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises:
 (i) presenting to a subject, using a computer device comprising an input device, a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level;   (ii) determining, using the computer device, a duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task, wherein determining the duration comprises receiving a response from the subject via the input device indicating the duration for which the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task; and   (iii) presenting to the subject, using the computer device, a second internally-directed focused attention task at an adapted difficulty level, wherein the adapted difficulty level is based on the duration for which the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task and is determined using an adaptive training algorithm,   wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i)-(iii) for multiple days to improve cognition in the subject compared to the cognition of the subject prior to the cognitive training program.   
     
     
         32 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are the same type of task. 
     
     
         33 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are independently selected from the group consisting of: the subject directing attention to the subject's breath sensations, the subject directing attention to a mental image, the subject directing attention to a phrase held in the subject's mind, and the subject directing attention to a phrase held in an internal body part of the subject other than the mind. 
     
     
         34 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm or a maximum likelihood procedure. 
     
     
         35 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein improving cognition in the subject comprises enhancing the performance of the subject on an untrained cognitive task. 
     
     
         36 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of: a touch-screen display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone. 
     
     
         37 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 36 , wherein the input device comprises a touch-screen display. 
     
     
         38 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein determining the duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first focused attention task comprises measuring one or more biological parameters of the subject. 
     
     
         39 . The non-transitory computer-readable medium of  claim 31 , wherein the computer device is selected from the group consisting of: a smartphone, a tablet computer, a head-up display (HUD) device, a smartwatch, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
         40 . A computer device comprising an input device and a non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing the computer device to present a cognitive training program to a subject, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises:
 (i) presenting to a subject, using the computer device, a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level;   (ii) determining, using the computer device, a duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task, wherein determining the duration comprises receiving a response from the subject via the input device indicating the duration for which the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task; and   (iii) presenting to the subject, using the computer device, a second internally-directed focused attention task at an adapted difficulty level, wherein the adapted difficulty level is based on the duration for which the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task and is determined using an adaptive training algorithm,   wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i)-(iii) for multiple days to improve cognition in the subject compared to the cognition of the subject prior to the cognitive training program.   
     
     
         41 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are the same. 
     
     
         42 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are independently selected from the group consisting of: the subject directing attention to the subject's breath sensations, the subject directing attention to a mental image, the subject directing attention to a phrase held in the subject's mind, and the subject directing attention to a phrase held in an internal body part of the subject other than the mind. 
     
     
         43 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein the adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm or a maximum likelihood procedure. 
     
     
         44 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein improving cognition in the subject comprises enhancing the performance of the subject on an untrained cognitive task. 
     
     
         45 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of: a touch-screen display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone. 
     
     
         46 . The computer device of  claim 45 , wherein the input device comprises a touch-screen display. 
     
     
         47 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein determining the duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first focused attention task comprises measuring one or more biological parameters of the subject. 
     
     
         48 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein the computer device is selected from the group consisting of: a smartphone, a tablet computer, a head-up display (HUD) device, a smartwatch, a laptop computer, and a desktop computer. 
     
     
         49 . The computer device of  claim 40 , wherein the computer device is selected from the group consisting of: a smartphone, a tablet computer, a head-up display (HUD) device, and a laptop computer. 
     
     
         50 . A method of improving cognition of a subject, comprising:
 presenting a computer-based cognitive training program to the subject, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises:   (i) presenting to the subject, using a computer device comprising an input device, a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level;   (ii) determining, using the computer device, a duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task, wherein determining the duration comprises receiving a response from the subject via the input device indicating the duration for which the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task; and   (iii) presenting to the subject, using the computer device, a second internally-directed focused attention task at an adapted difficulty level, wherein the adapted difficulty level is based on the duration for which the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task and is determined using an adaptive training algorithm,   wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i)-(iii) for multiple days to improve cognition in the subject compared to the cognition of the subject prior to the cognitive training program, and   wherein the subject has a mental condition selected from the group consisting of: attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD), post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), major depressive disorder, obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD), traumatic brain injury (TBI), and substance dependence disorder.