Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enhancing cognitive ability of an older participant by requiring the participant to differentiate between rapidly presented visual stimuli. First and second visual sweeps are provided for visual presentation to the participant, e.g., spatial frequency or orientation sweeps. At least two visual sweeps are visually presented to the participant utilizing the first visual sweep, the second visual sweep, or a combination. The participant is required to indicate an order in which the at least two visual sweeps were presented. A determination is made regarding whether the participant indicated the order of the visual sweeps correctly. The visually presenting, requiring, and determining are repeated one or more times in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition. The duration of the sweeps may be adjusted based on the correctness/incorrectness of the participant's response according to a maximum likelihood procedure. Assessments may be made during the exercise.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition of a participant using visual search. A target image and distracter image are provided for visual presentation. Multiple images, including the target image and multiple distracter images based on the distracter image, are temporarily visually presented at respective locations, then removed. The participant selects the target image location from multiple locations in the visual field, and the selection's correctness/incorrectness is determined. The visually presenting, requiring, and determining are repeated to improve the participant's cognition, e.g., efficiency, capacity and effective spatial extent of a participant's visual attention. In a dual attention version, potential target images differing by a specified attribute are provided, one of which is the target image. An indication of the specified attribute is also displayed.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing the cognitive ability of a participant using face-name associations. A plurality of facial images of people are provided for visual presentation to the participant, each person having a name. A learning phase is performed, including concurrently presenting a first facial image of a person from the plurality of facial images, and the name of the person. A testing phase is then performed, including: presenting a second facial image of the person from the plurality of facial images, displaying a plurality of names, including the name of the person and one or more distracter names, requiring the participant to select the name of the person from the plurality of names, and determining whether the participant selected the name correctly. The learning phase and the testing phase are repeated one or more times in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition, e.g., face-name association skills.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognitive ability of a participant using multiple object tracking. One or more images are provided and are available for visual presentation to the participant. A plurality of images based on the one or more images are visually presented, including multiple target images and multiple distracter images, where each of the target images is graphically indicated for a first time period, and then each of the images is moved for a second time period during which the graphically indicating is not performed. The participant is then required to select the target images from the plurality of images, and a determination is made regarding the selection's correctness/incorrectness. The visually presenting, requiring, and determining are repeated one or more times in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition. The stimulus intensity may be adjusted each iteration based on the participant's response. Assessments may be performed.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for enhancing cognitive ability of a participant using guided eye movements. Multiple graphical elements are provided for visual presentation to the participant, each having a value. A temporal sequence of at least two of the graphical elements are visually presented at a specified stimulus intensity, e.g., duration or presentation time, including displaying the value of each graphical element at a respective position in a visual field for a specified duration, then ceasing to display the value. The participant is required to respond to the displayed values. A determination is made as to whether the participant responded correctly, and the stimulus intensity modified in response, e.g., using a maximum likelihood procedure. The visually presenting, requiring, determining, and modifying are repeated in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognitive skills. Periodically, assessments of the participant's progress are performed, e.g., using the maximum likelihood procedure.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for enhancing cognition, e.g., for improving cognitive ability of a participant using visual stimuli. A set (or sets) of visual stimuli is provided for visual presentation to the participant. A visual stimulus from the set is visually presented to the participant. The participant is required to respond to the visual stimulus. A determination is made regarding whether the participant responded correctly. The stimulus intensity of the visual stimuli presented may be adjusted based on the correctness/incorrectness of the participant's response according to a single-stair maximum likelihood (e.g., ZEST) or N-up/M-down procedure. The visually presenting, requiring, and determining are repeated one or more times in an iterative manner to improve the participant's cognition, e.g., ability to process visual information, memory, etc. Assessments may be performed during the repeating according to a dual-stair maximum likelihood (e.g., ZEST) or N-up/M-down procedure.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for assessing a stimulus threshold of an older adult by requiring the adult to differentiate between rapidly presented stimuli. The method trains the time order judgment of the adult by presenting upward and downward frequency sweeps, in random order, separated by an inter-stimulus interval (ISI). Icons associated with the upward and downward frequency sweeps allow the adult to indicate an order in which the frequency sweeps are presented (i.e., UP-UP, UP-DOWN, DOWN-UP, and DOWN-DOWN). Correct/incorrect selection of an order causes the inter-stimulus interval and/or the duration of the frequency sweeps to be adaptively reduced/increased, using a maximum likelihood procedure, such as ZEST or QUEST, where two tracks, each with a respective duration and ISI, are adjusted until their values substantially converge, or a specified number of trials is performed. The threshold is determined by averaging the final values of the two tracks.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method is described for assessing an aging adult's ability to integrate visual-spatial and auditory memory by requiring the adult to spatially match pairs of graphically presented response buttons that are associated with aurally presented stimuli which is processed by a computing device. The adult is presented with a grid of response buttons, each associated with an aural stimulus. When the adult selects a response button, its aural stimulus is presented. The adult is required to consecutively select a response button having the same aural stimulus. As the adult sequentially selects response buttons having the same aural stimuli, the button pair is removed. First assessment trials are performed for a first plurality of grids, training trials are performed for a second plurality of grids, then second assessment trials performed for the first plurality of grids. The adult's performances in the two assessments are compared to determine the adult's improvement.

Abstract: A method on a computing device for determining a psychophysical threshold regarding an aging adult's ability to temporarily store and retrieve an order of the syllables by requiring the adult to listen to two or more aurally processed syllables, presented serially, view the syllables graphically, and designate the order in which the syllables were presented. Two tracks are initialized to respective stage values, each corresponding to attributes of the presented syllables. A number of trials are performed according to each of the two tracks. As the adult attempts to determine the syllable order in trials, correct/incorrect selection of an order causes the stage value of a track to be adaptively reduced/increased, using a maximum likelihood procedure, e.g., ZEST, where the two tracks are adjusted until their values substantially converge, or a specified number of trials is performed. The final stage values of the tracks are averaged to determine the threshold.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for determining a threshold regarding an aging adult's ability to remember and perform sequences of auditory instructions. A stage specifies a set of stimulus attributes. First and second tracks are respectively initialized to stage values below and above an initial anticipated threshold specifying an initial estimate of stimulus attributes corresponding to a specified performance level of the adult. A sequence of auditory instructions is presented indicating respective manipulations of graphical objects in accordance with the stage value of a specified one of either the first or second track. Input manipulating the graphical objects is received from the adult, and the stage value of the track modified in response. This is performed with respect to each of a plurality of sequences to determine final stage values for the tracks, and a threshold comprising the stage value associated with the specified performance level determined based on the final stage values.

Abstract: A method on a computing device for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of a participant by requiring the participant to differentiate between rapidly presented aural stimuli. The method trains the time order judgment of the participant by iteratively presenting sequences of upward and downward formant frequency sweeps, in random order, separated by an inter-stimulus interval (ISI). The upward and downward formant frequency sweeps utilize frequencies common in formants, i.e., the characteristic frequency components common in human speech. Icons are associated with the upward and downward formant frequency sweeps to allow the participant to indicate an order in which the sweeps are presented (i.e., UP-UP, UP-DOWN, DOWN-UP, and DOWN-DOWN). Correct/incorrect selection of an order causes the ISI and/or the duration of the frequency sweeps to be adaptively shortened/lengthened.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for assessing an aging adult's ability to classify formant transition and segment duration information in making phonetic categorizations. A representative subset of multiple confusable pairs of phonemes is selected. A representative subset of multiple stimulus levels for the phonemes is selected for use with the phoneme subset. For each pair of phonemes of the phoneme subset, at each stimulus level of the stimulus level subset: icons for each phoneme are graphically presented, and a computer-generated phoneme from the pair is aurally presenting at the stimulus level. The adult is required to select one of the icons corresponding to the aurally presented phoneme, and the selection's correctness or incorrectness recorded as a response result. A success rate is determined based on the response results, the success rate comprising an estimate of the adult's success rate with respect to the multiple confusable pairs of phonemes at the multiple stimulus levels.

Abstract: Computer-implemented method for improving cognition and memory in an aging adult, utilizing a computing device to present stimuli to the adult, and to record responses from the adult. A psychophysical threshold for an aging adult with respect to stimuli in a cognitive development exercise is determined using a maximum likelihood procedure, such as QUEST (quick estimation by sequential testing) or ZEST (zippy estimation by sequential testing). The threshold is a stimulus intensity value associated with a specified performance level of the adult. A plurality of trials in the exercise are then performed with stimuli at or near the determined threshold to improve the adult's cognition and memory skills. This threshold determination and exercise performance may be repeated in an iterative manner to further improve the adult's cognition and memory skills.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to listen to two or more aurally processed syllables, presented serially, view the syllables graphically, and then designate the order in which the syllables were aurally presented. A number of trials are presented to the adult. As the adult correctly determines the syllable order in trials, the difficulty of the trials is increased by increasing the number of syllables presented, and by reducing the amount of processing that is applied to the syllables.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to listen to two or more aurally processed syllables, presented serially, view the syllables graphically, and then designate the order in which the syllables were aurally presented. A number of trials are presented to the adult. As the adult correctly determines the syllable order in trials, the difficulty of the trials is increased by increasing the number of syllables presented, and by reducing the amount of processing that is applied to the syllables.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to listen to two or more aurally processed syllables, presented serially, view the syllables graphically, and then designate the order in which the syllables were aurally presented. A number of trials are presented to the adult. As the adult correctly determines the syllable order in trials, the difficulty of the trials is increased by increasing the number of syllables presented, and by reducing the amount of processing that is applied to the syllables.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to listen to two or more aurally processed syllables, presented serially, view the syllables graphically, and then designate the order in which the syllables were aurally presented. A number of trials are presented to the adult. As the adult correctly determines the syllable order in trials, the difficulty of the trials is increased by increasing the number of syllables presented, and by reducing the amount of processing that is applied to the syllables.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to differentiate between rapidly presented stimuli. The method utilizes a sequence of phonemes from a confusable pair which are systematically manipulated to make discrimination between the phonemes less difficult or more difficult based on the success of the adult. The manipulation includes processing of the consonant and vowel portions of the phonemes by emphasizing the portions, and/or by stretching the portions. Further processing includes separating the consonant and vowel portions by time intervals. As the adult improves in their auditory processing, the discriminations are made progressively more difficult by reducing the amount of processing to that of normal speech.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to spatially match pairs of graphically presented response buttons that are associated with aurally presented stimuli which is processed by the computing device. An adult is presented with a grid of response buttons that have been paired with aural stimuli. As the adult selects a response button, its processed aural stimuli is presented. The adult is required to remember which response button is associated with which aural stimuli, and sequentially select response buttons having the same aural stimuli. As the adult sequentially selects response buttons having the same aural stimuli, the response button pair is removed. The number of response buttons presented in a trial, and the amount of processing applied to the stimuli adapts to the adults success or failure in completing trials.

Abstract: A method on a computing device is provided for enhancing the memory and cognitive ability of an older adult by requiring the adult to differentiate between rapidly presented stimuli. The method trains the time order judgment of the adult by presenting upward and downward frequency sweeps, in random order, separated by an inter-stimulus interval. The upward and downward frequency sweeps are at frequencies common in formants which form the frequency components common in speech. Icons are associated with the upward and downward frequency sweeps to allow the adult to indicate an order in which the frequency sweeps are presented (i.e., UP-UP, UP-DOWN, DOWN-UP, and DOWN-DOWN). Correct selection of an order causes the inter-stimulus interval to be reduced, and/or the duration of the frequency sweeps to be adaptively shortened.