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 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.

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.

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.