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

A method of enhancing the performance of a subject on a cognitive task, comprising:

• presenting a computer-based cognitive training program to a subject, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises:
• (i) presenting a subject with a first computer-based focused attention task at a difficulty level;
• (ii) determining a duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first focused attention task;
• and
• (iii) presenting the subject with a second computer-based focused attention task at a difficulty level, wherein the difficulty level of the second focused attention task is less than or the same as the difficulty level of the first focused attention task if the subject maintained focused attention for a duration less than a cutoff duration during presentation of the first focused attention task, and wherein the difficulty level of the second focused attention task is greater than the difficulty level of the first focused attention task if the subject maintained focused attention for a duration greater than a cutoff duration during presentation of the first focused attention task,
• wherein the performance of the subject on the cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program.