Method and system for quantitative assessment of spatial distractor tasks
A method is presented to address quantitative assessment of spatial distractor tasks in a subject, where the method comprises the steps of: (1) presenting at least one scene to a subject on a display, said scene comprising a plurality of elements and a background; (2) modulating the saliency of a predetermined section of the scene; (3) receiving feedback from the subject; (4) superimposing an additional cue onto the scene; (5) generating a shift in attention of the subject; (6) receiving refined feedback from the subject; (7) quantitatively refining the refined feedback; (8) adjusting the motion associated with the scene relative to accuracy of the refined feedback; and (9) calculating a critical threshold parameter for the subject; and (10) recording the critical threshold parameter onto a tangible computer readable medium. An apparatus for quantitative assessment of spatial distractor tasks of a subject comprising a display device, an input device, a control device, and a tangible computer readable medium. In its simplest sense, quantitative assessment profile of spatial distractor tasks by psychophysical responses is generated on a tangible computer readable medium.
1. A method to evaluate functional impairment in a brain of a subject, said method comprising the steps of:
performing a spatial distractor tasks test, said spatial distractor tasks test assessing the combination of visual motion and visual form, said spatial distractor task test comprising the following steps executed on a processor:
presenting at least one scene to said subject on a display, said scene comprising a plurality of elements and a background;
modulating the saliency of a predetermined section of said scene;
receiving feedback from said subject, said feedback associated with input device;
superimposing at least one additional cue onto said scene, said additional cue associated with at least one distractor;
generating a shift in attention of said subject from said predetermined section to said distractor;
receiving refined feedback from said subject via at least one input device;
quantitatively refining said refined feedback relative to said scene;
adjusting the motion associated with said scene relative to accuracy of said quantitatively refined feedback, said adjusted motion associated with a predetermined target;
calculating a critical threshold parameter for said subject;
recording said critical threshold parameter onto a tangible computer readable medium; and
using said critical threshold parameter in assessing evaluating or determining at least one functional impairment in a brain of said subject.
2. The method of claim 1 , further comprising at least one of the additional steps of:
monitoring at least one response error from said subject; and
measuring said response error relative to a predetermined threshold.
3. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of superimposing is performed at a different location than said step of modulating.
4. The method of claim 1 , wherein said step of superimposing is performed intermittently.
5. The method of claim 1 , wherein said modulated saliency is associated with high saliency.
6. The method of claim 1 , wherein said superimposed cue further comprises a geometric characteristic.
7. The method of claim 6 , wherein said geometric characteristic further comprises at least one of the following:
shape;
size;
orientation;
aspect ratio; and
line thickness.
8. The method of claim 1 , wherein said adjusted motion is associated with said modulated predetermined section.
9. The method of claim 1 , wherein said movement is characterized by at least one of the following:
planar motion;
circular motion;
translational motion;
spiral motion; and
radial motion.
10. The method of claim 1 , wherein said quantitative refinement is associated with saliency.
11. The method of claim 1 , wherein said critical threshold parameter is implemented in a different functional impairment assessment test.
12. A non-transitory computer readable medium, said medium containing instructions executable by a processer to evaluate functional impairment in a brain of a subject, the steps comprising:
performing a spatial distractor tasks test, said spatial distractor tasks test assessing the combination of visual motion and visual form, said spatial distractor task test comprising the following steps:
presenting at least one scene to said subject on a display, said scene comprising a plurality of elements and a background;
modulating the saliency of a predetermined section of said scene;
receiving feedback from said subject, said feedback associated with input device;
superimposing at least one additional cue onto said scene, said additional cue associated with at least one distractor;
generating a shift in attention of said subject from said predetermined section to said distractor;
receiving refined feedback from said subject via at least one input device;
quantitatively refining said refined feedback relative to said scene;
adjusting the motion associated with said scene relative to accuracy of said quantitatively refined feedback, said adjusted motion associated with a predetermined target;
calculating a critical threshold parameter for said subject; and
outputting said critical threshold parameter, said critical threshold parameter used in assessing, evaluating, or determining at least one functional impairment in a brain of said subject.
13. The medium of claim 12 , further comprising at least one of the additional steps of:
monitoring at least one response error from said subject; and
measuring said response error relative to a predetermined threshold.
14. The medium of claim 12 , wherein said step of superimposing is performed at a different location than said step of modulating.
15. The medium of claim 12 , wherein said step of superimposing is performed intermittently.
16. The medium of claim 12 , wherein said modulated saliency is associated with high saliency.
17. The medium of claim 12 , wherein said superimposed cue further comprises a geometric characteristic.
18. The medium of claim 17 , wherein said geometric characteristic further comprises at least one of the following:
shape;
size;
orientation;
aspect ratio; and
line thickness.
19. The medium of claim 12 , wherein said adjusted motion is associated with said modulated predetermined section.
20. The medium of claim 12 , wherein said movement is characterized by at least one of the following:
planar motion;
circular motion;
translational motion;
spiral motion; and
radial motion.