# US 10,863,940 B2 · 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 > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,863,940 B2 - Document ID: US10863940B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/507,922 - Filed: 2015-09-15 - Published: 2017-08-31 - Granted: 2020-12-15 - Earliest claimed: 2014-09-17 - Assignees: The Regents of the University of California - Applicants: The Regents of the University of California - Inventors: Adam Gazzaley - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10863940B2 ## CPC - A61B 5/16: Devices for psychotechnics (using teaching or educational appliances G09B1/00 - G09B7/00); Testing reaction times {; Devices for evaluating the psychological state} - A61B 5/168: {Evaluating attention deficit, hyperactivity} - A61B 5/375: using biofeedback - A61B 5/378: Visual stimuli - A61B 5/38: Acoustic or auditory stimuli - A61B 5/486: {Biofeedback (using electroencephalography [EEG] A61B5/375)} - A61B 5/6803: {Head-worn items, e.g. helmets, masks, headphones or goggles} - G09B 5/06: with both visual and audible presentation of the material to be studied - G09B 7/02: of the type wherein the student is expected to construct an answer to the question which is presented or wherein the machine gives an answer to the question presented by a student - G09B 19/00: Teaching not covered by other main groups of this subclass (teaching or practice apparatus for gun-aiming or gun-laying F41G3/26) - A61B: DIAGNOSIS; SURGERY; IDENTIFICATION (usefulness limited to only animals A61D) - G09B: EDUCATIONAL OR DEMONSTRATION APPLIANCES; APPLIANCES FOR TEACHING, OR COMMUNICATING WITH, THE BLIND, DEAF OR MUTE; MODELS; PLANETARIA; GLOBES; MAPS; DIAGRAMS (devices for psychotechnics or for testing reaction times A61B5/16; games, sports, amusements A63; projectors, projector screens G03B) ## 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. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A method of enhancing the performance of a subject on an untrained cognitive task, comprising: presenting a computer-based 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 adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm and/or maximum likelihood procedure wherein the internally-directed focused attention tasks are 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, wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i) -(iii) each day over a number of days until the performance of the subject on the untrained cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are the same. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are different. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the difficulty level of the first focused attention task, the second focused attention task, or both, is determined by the duration of presentation thereof. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the difficulty level of the first focused attention task, the second focused attention task, or both, is determined by a context of presentation thereof. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The method according to claim 5, wherein the context comprises presenting one or more stimuli to the subject. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The method according to claim 6, wherein the one or more stimuli comprises an auditory stimulus. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the cutoff duration is the entire duration of presenting the first focused attention task. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of: a touch-screen display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, 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. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more biological parameters comprises neurological activity of the subject. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The method according to claim 11, wherein the neurological activity is measured by electroencephalography (EEG). ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The method according to claim 12, wherein the neurological activity is measured by an EEG headset worn by the subject. ### Claim 14 (depends on 10) The method according to claim 10, wherein the one or more biological parameters comprises eye movement of the subject. ### Claim 15 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein prior to presenting the first internally-directed focused attention task, the second internally-directed focused attention task, or both, the method comprises instructing the subject to notice internal distraction during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task, the second internally-directed focused attention task, or both. ### Claim 16 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, 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, a desktop computer, and combinations thereof. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the cognitive task is a visual search task. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The method according to claim 1, wherein the subject is an older adult. ### Claim 19 A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing a computer device comprising an input device to present a cognitive training program to a subject to enhance the performance of the subject on an untrained cognitive task, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises: (i) presenting to a subject a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level; (ii) determining 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 adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm and/or maximum likelihood procedure, wherein the internally-directed focused attention tasks are 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, and wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i) -(iii) each day over a number of days until the performance of the subject on the untrained cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program. ### Claim 20 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 to enhance the performance of the subject on an untrained cognitive task, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises: (i) presenting to a subject a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level; (ii) determining 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 adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm and/or maximum likelihood procedure, wherein the internally-directed focused attention tasks are 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, and wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i) -(iii) each day over a number of days until the performance of the subject on the untrained cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program.