Enhancing Cognition in the Presence of Distraction and/or Interruption

A computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition in an individual using a computer device having a display component and an input device, the method comprising using one or more computer processors to execute instructions stored in one or more memory storage devices comprising computer executable instructions to perform operations including:

• (a) presenting a first task to the individual using the display component requiring a first response from the individual via the input device;
• (b) presenting a first interference with the first task, the first task requiring a second response from the individual to the first task in the presence of an interference via the input device, wherein the first interference diverts the individual's attention from the first task and is selected from the group consisting of a distraction and an interrupter, wherein:
• when the first interference is a distraction, the individual is instructed to provide the second response to the first task and ignore the distraction, and
• when the first interference is an interrupter, the individual is instructed to provide the second response to the first task and respond to the interrupter as a secondary task;
• (c) obtaining in the computer device the individual's first and second responses;
• (d) analyzing in the computer device the difference in the individual's performance when performing the first task without interference and with interference by determining a difference between the first and second responses;
• and
• (e) adjusting the difficulty level of the first task based upon the individual's performance determined in the analyzing step to enhance cognition in the individual.

A system for enhancing cognition in an individual, the system comprising:

• a display component and an input device;
• and
• computer-executable instructions stored on physical memory, that when executed by one or more processors, perform operations comprising:
• (a) presenting a first task to the individual using the display component requiring a first response from the individual via the input device;
• (b) presenting a first interference with the first task, the first task requiring a second response from the individual to the first task in the presence of an interference via the input device, wherein the first interference diverts the individual's attention from the first task and is selected from the group consisting of a distraction and an interrupter, wherein:
• when the first interference is a distraction, the individual is instructed to provide the second response to the first task and ignore the distraction, and
• when the first interference is an interrupter, the individual is instructed to provide the second response to the first task and respond to the interrupter as a secondary task;
• (c) obtaining in the computer device the individual's first and second responses;
• (d) analyzing in the computer device the difference in the individual's performance when performing the first task without interference and with interference by determining a difference between the first and second responses;
• and
• (e) adjusting the difficulty level of the first task based upon the individual's performance determined in the analyzing step to enhance cognition in the individual.