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US 6,685,652 B1Granted
Method for determining fluctuation in attentional state and overall attentional state
AssigneeThe McLean Hospital Corporation
InventorsMartin H. Teicher, Steven B. Lowen
Life of this patent
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Abstract
The invention provides methods for determining shifts in the attentional state of a subject. These methods are useful for diagnosing subjects with a psychological or behavioral disorder. The invention also features methods for determining the effect of a therapy on the overall attentional state and shifts in the attentional state of a subject.
Claims40
A method of acquiring information about the pattern or fluctuation in attentional state of a subject, said method comprising:
- (a) presenting to said subject a sequence comprising target and nontarget stimuli, wherein said sequence is divided into three or more epochs in which there are a predetermined number of target and nontarget stimuli over a predetermined period of time;
- (b) scoring the response of said subject on the percentage of targets responded to and the percentage of nontargets responded to during each epoch;
- and
- (c) on the basis of the scoring of step (b), making a determination of the attentional state of said subject during each epoch;
- whereby the pattern or fluxuation in attentional states during the test period is assessed.
2 more elements
A method of determining whether a therapy affects the attentional state of a subject, said method comprising:
- (a) presenting to said subject undergoing treatment with said therapy a sequence comprising target and nontarget stimuli, wherein said sequence is divided into three or more epochs in which there are a predetermined number of target and nontarget stimuli over a predetermined period of time;
- (b) scoring the response of said subject on the percentage of targets responded to and the percentage of nontargets responded to during each epoch;
- and
- (c) on the basis of the scoring of step (b), making a determination of the attentional state of said subject during each epoch;
- whereby the pattern in attentional states during the test period is assessed, wherein an altered pattern of attentional states, compared to either the pattern of attentional states of said subject when not undergoing treatment with said therapy, or the pattern of attentional states of a control subject when not undergoing treatment with said therapy, indicates that said therapy affects the pattern of attentional states of said subject.
2 more elements
A method of acquiring information about the attentional state of a subject, said method comprising:
- (a) presenting to said subject a sequence comprising target and nontarget stimuli, wherein said sequence is divided into three or more epochs in which there are a predetermined number of target and nontarget stimuli over a predetermined period of time;
- (b) scoring the response of said subject on the percentage of targets responded to and the percentage of nontargets responded to during each epoch;
- and
- (c) on the basis of the scoring of step (b), making a determination of the attentional state of said subject during each epoch;
- whereby the length of time spent in a particular attentional state during the test period is assessed.
2 more elements
A method of determining whether a therapy affects the attentional state of a subject, said method comprising:
- (a) presenting to said subject undergoing treatment with said therapy a sequence comprising target and nontarget stimuli, wherein said sequence is divided into three or more epochs in which there are a predetermined number of target and nontarget stimuli over a predetermined period of time;
- (b) scoring the response of said subject on the percentage of targets responded to and the percentage of nontargets responded to during each epoch;
- and
- (c) on the basis of the scoring of step (b), making a determination of the attentional state of said subject during each epoch;
- whereby the length of time spent in a particular attentional state during the test period is assessed, wherein an length of time spent in a particular attentional state, compared to either the length of time spent in a particular attentional state of said subject when not undergoing treatment with said therapy or the length of time spent in a particular attentional state of a control subject when not undergoing treatment with said therapy, indicates that said therapy affects the length of time spent in a particular attentional state of said subject.
2 more elements
A method of acquiring information about the attentional state of a subject, said method comprising:
- (a) presenting to said subject a sequence of a predetermined number of stimuli over a predetermined period of time, wherein said sequence comprises target and nontarget stimuli;
- (b) scoring the response of said subject on the percentage of targets responded to (T) and the percentage of nontargets responded to (N);
- and
- (c) on the basis of the scoring of step (b), making a determination of the attentional state of said subject, wherein said attentional state is selected from the group consisting of:
- a first attentional state characterized by N and T differing by less than 25% and said subject responding to more than half of the stimuli;
- a second attentional state characterized by N and T differing by less than 25% and said subject responding to less than half of the stimuli;
- a third attentional state characterized by T being 85% or greater and N being 20% or less;
- a fourth attentional state characterized by T being 85% or greater and N exceeding 20%;
- a fifth attentional state characterized by T being less than 85%, T being greater than N, and said subject not being in said first or second attentional state;
- and a sixth attentional state characterized by N exceeding T by more than 25%.
7 more elements
A method of determining whether a therapy affects the attentional state of a subject, said method comprising:
- (a) presenting to said subject undergoing treatment with said therapy a sequence of a predetermined number of stimuli over a predetermined period of time, wherein said sequence comprises target and nontarget stimuli;
- (b) scoring the response of said subject on the percentage of targets responded to (T) and the percentage of nontargets responded to (N);
- and
- (c) on the basis of the scoring of step (b), making a determination of the attentional state of said subject, wherein said attentional state is selected from the group consisting of:
- a first attentional state characterized by N and T differing by less than 25% and said subject responding to more than half of the stimuli;
- a second attentional state characterized by N and T differing by less than 25% and said subject responding to less than half of the stimuli;
- a third attentional state characterized by T being 85% or greater and N being 20% or less;
- a fourth attentional state characterized by T being 85% or greater and N exceeding 20%;
- a fifth attentional state characterized by T being less than 85%, T being greater than N, and said subject not being in said first or second attentional state;
- and a sixth attentional state characterized by N exceeding T by more than 25%;
- and wherein an altered attentional state, compared to either the attentional state of said subject when not undergoing treatment with said therapy or the attentional state of a control subject when not undergoing treatment with said therapy, indicates that said therapy affects the attentional state of said subject.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.