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

1. A method of enhancing the performance of a subject on an untrained cognitive task, comprising:

presenting a computer-based 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 adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm and/or maximum likelihood procedure

wherein the internally-directed focused attention tasks are selected from the group consisting of: the subject directing attention to the subject's breath sensations, the subject directing attention to a mental image, the subject directing attention to a phrase held in the subject's mind, and the subject directing attention to a phrase held in an internal body part of the subject other than the mind,

wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i) -(iii) each day over a number of days until the performance of the subject on the untrained cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program.

2. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are the same.

3. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the first internally-directed focused attention task and the second internally-directed focused attention task are different.

4. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the difficulty level of the first focused attention task, the second focused attention task, or both, is determined by the duration of presentation thereof.

5. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the difficulty level of the first focused attention task, the second focused attention task, or both, is determined by a context of presentation thereof.

6. The method according to claim 5 , wherein the context comprises presenting one or more stimuli to the subject.

7. The method according to claim 6 , wherein the one or more stimuli comprises an auditory stimulus.

8. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cutoff duration is the entire duration of presenting the first focused attention task.

9. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the input device is selected from the group consisting of: a touch-screen display, a mouse, a keyboard, and a microphone.

10. The method according to claim 1 , wherein determining the duration that the subject maintained focused attention during presentation of the first focused attention task comprises measuring one or more biological parameters of the subject.

11. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more biological parameters comprises neurological activity of the subject.

12. The method according to claim 11 , wherein the neurological activity is measured by electroencephalography (EEG).

13. The method according to claim 12 , wherein the neurological activity is measured by an EEG headset worn by the subject.

14. The method according to claim 10 , wherein the one or more biological parameters comprises eye movement of the subject.

15. The method according to claim 1 , wherein prior to presenting the first internally-directed focused attention task, the second internally-directed focused attention task, or both, the method comprises instructing the subject to notice internal distraction during presentation of the first internally-directed focused attention task, the second internally-directed focused attention task, or both.

16. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the computer device is selected from the group consisting of: a smartphone, a tablet computer, a head-up display (HUD) device, a smartwatch, a laptop computer, a desktop computer, and combinations thereof.

17. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the cognitive task is a visual search task.

18. The method according to claim 1 , wherein the subject is an older adult.

19. A non-transitory computer-readable medium comprising instructions stored thereon for causing a computer device comprising an input device to present a cognitive training program to a subject to enhance the performance of the subject on an untrained cognitive task, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises:

(i) presenting to a subject a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level;

(ii) determining 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 adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm and/or maximum likelihood procedure,

wherein the internally-directed focused attention tasks are selected from the group consisting of: the subject directing attention to the subject's breath sensations, the subject directing attention to a mental image, the subject directing attention to a phrase held in the subject's mind, and the subject directing attention to a phrase held in an internal body part of the subject other than the mind, and

wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i) -(iii) each day over a number of days until the performance of the subject on the untrained cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program.

20. 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 to enhance the performance of the subject on an untrained cognitive task, wherein presenting the cognitive training program comprises:

(i) presenting to a subject a first internally-directed focused attention task at a difficulty level;

(ii) determining 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 adaptive training algorithm comprises a staircase algorithm and/or maximum likelihood procedure,

wherein the internally-directed focused attention tasks are selected from the group consisting of: the subject directing attention to the subject's breath sensations, the subject directing attention to a mental image, the subject directing attention to a phrase held in the subject's mind, and the subject directing attention to a phrase held in an internal body part of the subject other than the mind, and

wherein the computer-based cognitive training program comprises performing steps (i) -(iii) each day over a number of days until the performance of the subject on the untrained cognitive task is enhanced by the cognitive training program.