Treatment of neurological functioning and conditions using computer-assisted dual-task methodology
A system and method for targeted treatment of human brain function using a combination of physical and mental activity to cause neurogenesis and neuroplasticity in targeted regions of the brain using computer-enhanced dual-task analysis and treatment. The system and method involve having a subject engage in physical and mental activities at levels of intensity or stress associated with increased neurogenesis and neuroplasticity, the mental activities being associated with certain brain regions intended to be targeted by the treatment, wherein the physical and mental activities are assigned based on dual-task analyses of the subject's brain function and machine learning algorithms trained to optimize the stress levels associated with the physical and mental activities to maximize neurogenesis and neuroplasticity. The physical and mental activities may be continuously adjusted to ensure that the subject remains in appropriate ranges for neurogenesis and neuroplasticity for the brain region or regions being targeted for treatment.
1. A system for treatment of neurological conditions, comprising:
a physical activity data capture device, configured to capture movement data associated with physical activity of persons exercising thereon;
a computing device comprising a processor and a memory;
a computer display configured to display outputs from a software application to persons undergoing treatment;
the software application, comprising a first plurality of programming instructions stored in a memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the computing device to:
receive a neurological condition of a person for treatment;
select a primary activity for performance by the person, the primary activity comprising a physical activity associated with activation of portions of the human brain associated with the neurological condition and a recommended level of intensity of the physical activity also associated with activation of portions of the human brain associated with the neurological condition;
select a secondary activity for performance by the person, the secondary activity being a mental activity to be engaged in by the person within a virtual reality environment controlled in whole or in part by the software application, the secondary activity also being associated with activation of portions of the human brain associated with the neurological condition;
operate the secondary activity within the virtual reality environment;
while the person engages in the primary task, record movement data associated with the physical activity using the physical activity data capture device;
convert the movement data into movements in the virtual reality environment;
display the virtual reality environment comprising the secondary activity and the movements to the person via the display;
determine from the movement data an actual level of intensity of the physical activity, and either:
provide feedback to the person via the display as to the actual level of intensity relative to the recommended level of intensity, such that the person can self-regulate the actual level of intensity to be similar to the recommended level of intensity; or
adjust the operation of the physical activity data capture device to cause the actual level of intensity to more closely correspond with the recommended level of intensity; and
record activity data associated with the person's engagement in the secondary activity within the virtual reality environment; and
a second plurality of programming instructions stored in the memory which, when operating on the processor, causes the computing device to:
capture and analyze the movement data while the secondary task is stopped;
capture and analyze the activity data while the primary activity is stopped;
restart operation of the primary activity;
capture and analyze the movement data and the activity data while the primary activity and secondary activity are performed simultaneously; and
calculate a composite functioning score for the person, the composite functioning score comprising an indication of the level of functionality of an aspect of the person's nervous system based on differences in performance between the separate performance of the primary activity and secondary activity relative to the combined performance of the primary activity and secondary activity; and
generate a neurological condition profile of the person comprising an indication of relative functioning of the aspect of the person's nervous system.
2. The system of claim 1 , wherein one or more primary tasks and one or more secondary activities are assigned to the person, a plurality of composite functioning scores are calculated comprising indications of the level of functionality of a plurality of aspects of the person's nervous system, and the neurological functioning profile comprises indications of relative functioning of the plurality of aspects of the person's nervous system.
3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the neurological functioning analyzer creates a composite functioning score spatial map based on the neurological functioning profile.
4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the software application changes the primary activity or secondary activity or selects a different primary activity or secondary activity based on changes to the person's composite function score while undergoing treatment.
5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the neurological functioning analyzer determines an effectiveness of the treatment of the neurological condition based on changes to the person's neurological condition profile over time.
6. The system of claim 1 , wherein the composite functioning score is compared to statistical composite functioning score data for a larger population to determine the person's relative position in the larger population with respect to the composite functioning score.
7. The system of claim 1 , wherein the primary activity is exercise on a treadmill, elliptical machine, or stationary bicycle.
8. The system of claim 1 , wherein the secondary activity involves overcoming a computer or video game-like challenge or a computer simulation of a life-like scenario or challenge.
9. The system of claim 8 , wherein the system selects the primary activity and secondary activity based on changes to the person's neurological condition profile over time that suggest improvements in the person's performance.
10. A method for treatment of neurological conditions, comprising the steps of:
a computer display configured to display outputs from a software application to persons undergoing treatment;
using a software application operating on a computing device comprising a processor and a memory to:
receive a neurological condition of a person for treatment;
select a primary activity for performance by the person, the primary activity comprising a physical activity associated with activation of portions of the human brain associated with the neurological condition and a recommended level of intensity of the physical activity also associated with activation of portions of the human brain associated with the neurological condition;
select a secondary activity for performance by the person, the secondary activity being a mental activity to be engaged in by the person within a virtual reality environment controlled in whole or in part by the software application, the secondary activity also being associated with activation of portions of the human brain associated with the neurological condition;
operate the secondary activity within the virtual reality environment;
while the person engages in the primary task, record movement data associated with the physical activity using a physical activity data capture device, configured to capture movement data associated with physical activity of persons exercising thereon;
convert the movement data into movements in the virtual reality environment;
display the virtual reality environment comprising the secondary activity and the movements to the person via a computer display configured to display outputs from the software application to the person undergoing treatment;
determine from the movement data an actual level of intensity of the physical activity, and either:
provide feedback to the person via the display as to the actual level of intensity relative to the recommended level of intensity, such that the person can self-regulate the actual level of intensity to be similar to the recommended level of intensity; or
adjust the operation of the physical activity data capture device to cause the actual level of intensity to more closely correspond with the recommended level of intensity; and
record activity data associated with the person's engagement in the secondary activity within the virtual reality environment; and
using a neurological functioning analyzer operating on the computing device to:
capture and analyze the movement data while the secondary task is stopped;
capture and analyze the activity data while the primary activity is stopped;
restart operation of the primary activity;
capture and analyze the movement data and the activity data while the primary activity and secondary activity are performed simultaneously; and
calculate a composite functioning score for the person, the composite functioning score comprising an indication of the level of functionality of an aspect of the person's nervous system based on differences in performance between the separate performance of the primary activity and secondary activity relative to the combined performance of the primary activity and secondary activity; and
generate a neurological condition profile of the person comprising an indication of relative functioning of the aspect of the person's nervous system.
11. The method of claim 10 , wherein one or more primary tasks and one or more secondary activities are assigned to the person, a plurality of composite functioning scores are calculated comprising indications of the level of functionality of a plurality of aspects of the person's nervous system, and the neurological functioning profile comprises indications of relative functioning of the plurality of aspects of the person's nervous system.
12. The method of claim 10 , wherein the neurological functioning analyzer creates a composite functioning score spatial map based on the neurological functioning profile.
13. The method of claim 10 , wherein the software application changes the primary activity or secondary activity or selects a different primary activity or secondary activity based on changes to the person's composite function score while undergoing treatment.
14. The method of claim 10 , wherein the neurological functioning analyzer determines an effectiveness of the treatment of the neurological condition based on changes to the person's neurological condition profile over time.
15. The method of claim 10 , wherein the composite functioning score is compared to statistical composite functioning score data for a larger population to determine the person's relative position in the larger population with respect to the composite functioning score.
16. The method of claim 10 , wherein the primary activity is exercise on a treadmill, elliptical machine, or stationary bicycle.
17. The method of claim 10 , wherein the secondary activity involves overcoming a computer or video game-like challenge or a computer simulation of a life-like scenario or challenge.
18. The method of claim 17 , wherein the method selects the primary activity and secondary activity based on changes to the person's neurological condition profile over time that suggest improvements in the person's performance.