Systems and methods for assessing and improving sustained attention
The present invention relates to a system and method for assessing and training the quality of attentional awareness and control of an individual. The individual's attention is monitored using a neurophysiological system such as EEG while using a computer system and display that provides signals that allow the correlation of behavioral measures of attention with neurophysiological measures. The combination of those signals is a novel, accurate and reliable system for assessing any individual's true attention capabilities.
1. In a computerized attention testing system having an EEG sensor, an input device and an output device, a method for measuring sustained attention capability comprising:
providing a first viewable area of an output device to be attended by a user during a sustained time period, the first area flickering at a first frequency;
providing a second viewable area of the output device to be ignored by the user during the time period, the second area flickering at a second frequency;
providing at least one of a target and a distractor using the output device, the user instructed to respond to the target and also instructed to ignore the distractor;
measuring at least one infra-slow fluctuation of reaction time of the user to the target substantially over the time period using an input device;
measuring an infra-slow fluctuation of SSVEP (Steady State Visual Evoked Potentials) of the user during the time period using a neural scanner; and
computing a measure of attention capability of the user by correlating the at least one infra-slow fluctuation of reaction time with the infra-slow fluctuation of SSVEP of the user.
2. The method of claim 1 wherein the target is presented inside the attended area and wherein the distractor is presented inside the ignored area.
3. The method of claim 1 wherein the target is at least one of a predetermined shape, color and alphanumeric character.
4. The method of claim 1 further comprising providing a fixation point to the user, the fixation point located substantially between the first viewable area and the second viewable area.
5. The method of claim 1 wherein the time period is a sustained time period.
6. The method of claim 5 wherein the sustained time period is substantially over ten seconds.
7. The method of claim 1 wherein the SSVEP is measured using an EEG (electrophysiological) sensor.
8. The method of claim 1 wherein the first frequency is substantially between 3 Hz and 40 Hz.
9. The method of claim 8 wherein the first frequency is substantially between 15 Hz and 18 Hz.
10. The method of claim 1 wherein the second frequency is substantially between 3 Hz and 40 Hz.
11. The method of claim 10 wherein the second frequency is substantially between 15 Hz and 18 Hz.
12. The method of claim 1 wherein a presentation rate of the target is randomized with respect to time.
13. The method of claim 7 wherein the infra-slow fluctuation of SSVEP are computed using a moving window Fast Fourier Transform (FFT) of the EEG signal to extract a magnitude of the SSVEP signal.