System and Method for Simulating Cognitive Impairment

Abstract

Methods for simulating effects of impairment caused by recreational consumption of marijuana using a system including optical filters and various radiant objects. The system includes i) an optical filter having a pre-defined spectral pass-band and a non-diffractive spatial pattern configured to deviate a beam of light incident onto the filter, and, optionally, ii) radiant objects at least one of which delivers light in a spectral band corresponding to color that is complementary to the color defined by the pass-band of the optical filter. Method for demonstration and analysis of impairment of cognitive function caused by using the system to affect the vision of the user.

1 . A method for using a system to simulate cognitive impairment of a user,
 the method comprising:
 causing the user to make a first choice among a plurality of radiant objects, which plurality includes a first radiant object and a second radiant object, in reliance on a first visual perception of the user of radiant objects from said plurality with a naked eye, the first choice including a first tangible action by the user,
 wherein the first radiant object is configured to deliver light at a first wavelength that is defined to be absorbed by an optical filter from first and second optical filters that are configured as first and second lenses of goggles, 
 and 
 wherein at least one of the following conditions is satisfied:
 (a) the first radiant object includes a first light-generating object configured to generate light at first and second wavelengths, the first and second wavelengths being switched randomly; 
 (b) the first radiant object includes a first light-generating object configured to generate a first light at the first wavelength, while the second radiant object includes a second light-generating object configured to generate a second light at the second wavelength; and 
 (c) wherein the system includes a first multiplicity of first objects and a second multiplicity of second objects, the first multiplicity including at least one first light-generating object configured to generate light in a blinking fashion, the second multiplicity including at least one second light-generating object configured to generate light in the blinking fashion; 
 
 
 causing the user to make a second choice among the plurality of radiant objects that includes the first and second radiant objects in reliance on a second visual perception of the user of radiant objects from said plurality through the goggles, the second choice including a second tangible action by the user; and
 wherein each of said causing the user to make the first choice and said causing the use to make the second choice includes causing the user to identify an object of a driving scene in a pattern that represents a road, wherein the pattern comprises a first plurality of lines and a second plurality of second lines and highlighted with light generated by at least one of the first and second radiant objects; 
 
 and 
 producing a report representing differences between the first and second actions and user confidence in making at least said second choice. 
   
     
     
         2 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said producing the report includes recording and comparing responses representing results of making the first choice and results of making the second choice. 
     
     
         3 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein the first lines are substantially transverse to the second lines to form a set of intersection points at intersections of the first and second lines, and
 wherein said causing the user to make the first choice includes
 placing the first radiant object and the second object at points from the set of the intersection points; 
 operating the first and second radiant objects to have said objects generate light; and 
 causing the user to identify, at a first moment of time, chosen intersection points. 
   
     
     
         4 . A method according to  claim 3 , wherein said causing the user to make the second choice includes causing the user to identify, at a second moment of time, said chosen intersection points 
     
     
         5 . A method according to  claim 4 , wherein said producing the report includes recording a user-perceivable representation of reduction in confidence of identifying said chosen intersection points between the first and second moments of time. 
     
     
         6 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said causing the user to make the second choice includes transmitting light through a filter, from the first and second optical filters, that includes a spatial pattern at a body of said filter, wherein said pattern defines different phase delays for first and second collimated light beams that are incident normally at different points of said pattern and propagate through the at least one of the first and second optical filters. 
     
     
         7 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said causing the user to make the second choice includes transmitting light through a filter, from the first and second optical filters, that includes a spatial pattern at a body of said filter, wherein said pattern has a period chosen so as to not produce an optical diffraction effect when irradiated with visible light. 
     
     
         8 . A method according to  claim 1 , wherein said causing the user to make the second choice includes transmitting light through a filter, from the first and second optical filters, having an optical filtering function that is spatially-invariable within bounds of said filter.