Abstract: The invention described herein provides computer-implemented methods and systems for alleviating an abnormal behavior, such as a behavior associated with a fear, abnormal activity, or obsession. It has been found that behaviorally abnormal self-sustaining behaviors may be unlearned or diminished through directed forms of computer-implemented interaction. The computer-implemented interaction is generally directed to reduce the neurological representations of inputs and actions associated with the abnormal behavior. The interaction will typically comprise strategically and repeatedly presenting computer-implemented stimuli including context related to the abnormal behavior. The computer-implemented stimuli are then repeatedly presented and altered over time in a manner that alleviates the abnormal behavior. For example, the content of the computer-implemented stimuli may change to gradually vary in their ability to trigger an episode in the person.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training the cognitive and memory systems in a subject is provided. The apparatus and method incorporates a number of different programs to be played by the subject. The programs artificially process selected portions of language elements, called phonemes, so they will be more easily distinguished by the subject, and gradually improves the subject's neurological processing and memory of the elements through repetitive stimulation. The programs continually monitor a subject's ability to distinguish the processed language elements, and adaptively configures the programs to challenge and reward the subject by altering the degree of processing. Through adaptive control and repetition of processed speech elements, and presentation of the speech elements in a creative fashion, a subject's cognitive processing of acoustic events common to speech, and memory of language constructs associated with speech elements are significantly improved.

Abstract: A method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans, and a human's short term memory, is provided within an animated game environment. The method provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having similar sounding phonemes associated with graphemes. Upon initiation of a trial, a grid of tiles is presented to a subject. The subject selects the tiles, one at a time. As the tiles are selected, an associated phoneme is presented to the subject. The subject clears away tiles by pairing them with identical tiles. When all the tiles in a trial are cleared, the subject is either promoted or demoted in skill level. Promotion/demotion varies the number of tiles presented, the phonemes used within each trial, and the amount of audio processing that is applied to the phonemes.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented methods and apparatus for remote cognitive and/or perceptual testing using a computer network having a remote computer geographically separate from an administering computer. The remote cognitive and/or perceptual testing includes administering a set of cognitive and/or perceptual tests, obtaining a performance response of the person to the tests and uploading the testing information via the computer network. The tests may be administered a number of times to evaluate one or more cognitive skills and/or perceptual abilities. Parallel to the testing, a therapy may be administered. The method may also include monitoring the performance of the person on the tests. The computer-implemented method may additionally include administering a set of initial tests before therapy inception to assess a person's intrinsic cognitive skills and/or perceptual abilities. The results of the initial testing and testing during therapy may be entered into a database.

Abstract: The present invention relates to a computer-implemented methods and apparatus for remote cognitive and/or perceptual testing using a computer network having a remote computer geographically separate from an administering computer. The remote cognitive and/or perceptual testing includes administering a set of cognitive and/or perceptual tests, obtaining a performance response of the person to the tests and uploading the testing information via the computer network. The tests may be administered a number of times to evaluate one or more cognitive skills and/or perceptual abilities. Parallel to the testing, a therapy may be administered. The method may also include monitoring the performance of the person on the tests. The computer-implemented method may additionally include administering a set of initial tests before therapy inception to assess a person's intrinsic cognitive skills and/or perceptual abilities. The results of the initial testing and testing during therapy may be entered into a database.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators,also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for the identification and treatment of language perception problems in specific language impaired (SLI) individuals. The invention provides a method and apparatus for screening individuals for SLI and training individuals who suffer from SLI to remediate the effects of the impairment by using the spectral content of interfering sound stimuli and the temporal ordering or direction of the interference between the stimuli.

Abstract: The invention described herein provides computer-implemented methods and systems for alleviating an abnormal behavior, such as a behavior associated with a fear, abnormal activity, or obsession. It has been found that behaviorally abnormal self-sustaining behaviors may be unlearned or diminished through directed forms of computer-implemented interaction. The computer-implemented interaction is generally directed to reduce the neurological representations of inputs and actions associated with the abnormal behavior. The interaction will typically comprise strategically and repeatedly presenting computer-implemented stimuli including context related to the abnormal behavior. The computer-implemented stimuli are then repeatedly presented and altered over time in a manner that alleviates the abnormal behavior. For example, the content of the computer-implemented stimuli may change to gradually vary in their ability to trigger an episode in the person.

Abstract: A computer-implemented method for improving temporal processing of a first type of information in human is disclosed. The first type of information pertains to one of touch, auditory, and visual. The computer-implemented method includes providing a computer, and providing a stimuli generator coupled to the computer. The stimuli generator providing, responsive to control signals from the computer, first stimuli, the first stimuli being a different one of the touch, auditory, and visual. The computer-implemented method further includes applying the first stimuli from the stimuli generator to the human. The first stimuli are produced around a plurality of time scales to facilitate improvement in the temporal processing of the first type of information around the plurality of time scales.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for the identification and treatment of language perception problems in specific language impaired (SLI) individuals. The invention provides a method and apparatus for screening individuals for SLI and training individuals who suffer from SLI to remediate the effects of the impairment by using the spectral content of interfering sound stimuli and the temporal ordering or direction of the interference between the stimuli.

Abstract: Computer implemented training exercises present stimuli to a user and receive responses by the user to the stimuli. The stimuli are specifically selected to challenge and improve a cognitive ability of the user, e.g., the ability to perceive and understand spoken language. As a result, the stimuli cannot be changed or adapted to motivate the user through entertainment. Motivation is therefore provided by periodic reward animations which include persistent plots and characters. Progress indicators represent progress toward reward animations and represent such progression with smooth, entertaining progress animations. Randomly appearing animations and variations in rewards and immediate feedback add to the surprise and curiosity of the user and motivate further correct responses to see further random animations and variations. Progress indicators also represent a relation between the number of steps taking toward completion of a task and a maximum number of steps which should be needed to complete the task.

Abstract: A method for adaptively training a subject, using auditory processing of phonemes within command sentences, to improve the subject's listening comprehension, grammatical parsing, and serial memory is provided. The method utilizes a number of training installments, each designed for testing a particular aspect of the subject's language skills, all tied together by a common story. More specifically, installments are provided that narrate a story, test the subject's listening comprehension to the narrated story, test the subject's ability to grammatically parse increasingly difficult sentence structures, and test the subject's ability to select and manipulate graphical objects in response to auditory commands. Speech processing is used for the narration, as well as for commands within each test to allow the subject to more easily distinguish between similar sounding phonemes.

Abstract: A method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans, and a human's short term memory, is provided within an animated game environment. The method provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having similar sounding phonemes associated with graphemes. Upon initiation of a trial, a grid of tiles is presented to a subject. The subject selects the tiles, one at a time. As the tiles are selected, an associated phoneme is presented to the subject. The subject clears away tiles by pairing them with identical tiles. When all the tiles in a trial are cleared, the subject is either promoted or demoted in skill level. Promotion/demotion varies the number of tiles presented, the phonemes used within each trial, and the amount of audio processing that is applied to the phonemes.

Abstract: A method for adaptively training a human subject to process, and to distinguish between, similar acoustic events that are common in spoken language is provided. The method utilizes sequences of up/down frequency sweeps, of varying frequency and duration, and having varying inter stimulus intervals (ISI) between the frequency sweeps. A sequence is presented to the subject for order identification. The subject must listen to the up/down order of a sequence, and signal identification of the up/down order according to what s/he heard. Signal identification is provided utilizing a computer display, a mouse, and graphical buttons corresponding to the up/down frequency sweeps. Correct order identification causes the process to adaptively reduce the ISI separating the frequency sweeps, to reduce the duration of the frequency sweeps, to alter the frequency of the frequency sweeps, and to increase the number of frequency sweeps within a sequence.

Abstract: The present invention provides an improved method and apparatus for the identification and treatment of language perception problems in specific language impaired (SLI) individuals. The invention provides a method and apparatus for screening individuals for SLI and training individuals who suffer from SLI to remediate the effects of the impairment by using the spectral content of interfering sound stimuli and the temporal ordering or direction of the interference between the stimuli.

Abstract: Execution status of a number of teaching processes distributed throughout a computer network are represented in a HTML document such that the status of the teaching processes can be observed remotely using a conventional HTML document viewer. In general, the status can be observed from any of a number of computers which can retrieve the HTML document through a computer network. To view the execution status of the teaching processes, an administrator uses a conventional HTML viewer to request the HTML document according to a file transfer protocol, e.g., the hypertext transfer protocol (HTTP). HTTP supports retrieval of HTML documents locally, i.e., within the computer in which a HTTP server executes, or remotely through a computer network. The HTML document includes user interface controls by which the administrator can invoke administrations tasks performed by the HTTP server.

Abstract: An apparatus and method for training of auditory and graphical discrimination in humans is provided. The method and apparatus provides a number of stimulus sets, each stimulus set having a target phoneme, and associated grapheme, and a number of distractor phonemes, and associated graphemes. Upon initiation of a trial, a target phoneme is presented to a subject. A stimulus stream is then prepared that consists of a random sequence of distractor phonemes. Located within the sequence of distractor phonemes is the target phoneme. The stimulus sequence is presented to the subject for identification of the target phoneme within the sequence. Speech processing is used to provide multiple levels of emphasis for enhancing a subject's ability to discriminate between similarly sounding phonemes. The processing is applied to the presentation of the target phoneme and the stimulus stream.

Abstract: A method for adaptively training a human subject to process, and to distinguish between, similar acoustic events that are common in spoken language is provided. The method utilizes sequences of up/down frequency sweeps, of varying frequency and duration, and having varying inter stimulus intervals (ISI) between the frequency sweeps. A sequence is presented to the subject for order identification. The subject must listen to the up/down order of a sequence, and signal identification of the up/down order according to what s/he heard. Signal identification is provided utilizing a computer display, a mouse, and graphical buttons corresponding to the up/down frequency sweeps. Correct order identification causes the process to adaptively reduce the ISI separating the frequency sweeps, to reduce the duration of the frequency sweeps, to alter the frequency of the frequency sweeps, and to increase the number of frequency sweeps within a sequence.