Computer Assisted Attention Training

Computer AssistedAttention Training

Guy Mark Lifshitz260230337

Supervisor: Clark VerbruggeCo-Supervisor: Amir Raz

The Goal

Use computer games to improve the attention span and behaviour of children

Future WorkBackground Games DesignDevelopment Results

PsychologyBackground:

Types of AttentionAlerting

Ability to respond to an impending event

OrientingAbility to shift focus between stimuli

ExecutiveControl over multiple neural areas to resolve conflicts


How Attention Training Works

Requires sustained attention

Self-regulation/conflict resolution

Working Memory


What existsBackground:

Existing Games

IBM Accessibility Research andThe Sackler Institute for Developmental

Psychobiology

Written in 2001


Existing Games

Joystick based

4 – 7 year olds

healthy and ADHD children


Existing Games Joystick Training


Existing Games Conflict Training


My games

Games Created (1/5)Future WorkBackground Games DesignDevelopment Results



Motivating Ideas

Primary goal:Train for joystick use

Side-benefits:Requires sustained attention



Motivating Ideas

Moving distractions(orienting, executive)

Unpredictable location (orienting)

Training of sounds(for future games)




Motivating Ideas

Similar to the Stroop test

Child specific considerations:Sound rather than readingAnimals rather than colors

Green Red Blue

Green Red Blue

Green Red Blue


Motivating Ideas

Ignore conflicting sound/visual cue(executive)

Remember the sound/visual cue(Working memory)

Requires automatedsound recognition(previous games)





Motivating Ideas

Player Specific Feedback (cocktail party effect)

Conflict resolution (executive attention)

Inconsistent timing (alerting attention)

Unpredictable location (orienting)


DevelopmentCycle

Preliminary Research

1. Meet with research assistants

2. Meet with Prof. Raz

3. Read psychology papers

4.Read Child-Computer Interaction (CCI) papers


Development Cycle

1. Talk to RAs

2. Develop prototype

3. Test with Prof. Raz’s children

4. Get feedback from Prof. Raz

Repeat


Development Cycle

1. Talk to RAs

2. Develop prototype

3. Test with Prof. Raz’s children

4. Get feedback from Prof. Raz

Repeat


Constraintsand Considerations

Design ConsiderationsMeasurements

Repeatability

Modifiable

Extendible

Code reuse

Comprehensible to psychologists


Measurements

Measure success

Measure time


Measurements

CSVLevel, Reaction Time, Successful0, 7553, true1, 1630, true2, 1416, false1, 902, true2, 1242, true


Repeatability

Reduce randomized aspects


Repeatability

Reduce randomized aspectsDrawback: hard to setup


Repeatability

Reduce randomized aspectsDrawback: hard to setup

Unclear how much randomness is acceptable


ModifiableConfiguration files# REQUIRED ORDER: # For video : videos must me labeled "0.mpg", "1.mpg" etc.. in order.# Position Of the goal, Right to left, top to bottom, 0 = top left, 7 = bottom right, no middle position334# Use same animal as previous round? 0 = use new animal, 1 = use same110# Show the goal animal in the middle during gameplay, 0 = no, 1 = yes110# Move the goal animal up and down?, 0 = no, 1-9 = slowest to fastest001# Move a specific bush, 0-7 = show at that locaion, 9 = show none (Note: this does not neccessarily have to be an occupied bush) 912# Show a video? 0 = no, 1 = show before, 2 = show after000#Other animal positions, 0-7 = position, 9 = don't show199299999499599699#divider to show that these are two different sets================================================#Is each obstacle animal moving? 0 = not moving, 1-9 = slowest to fastest100200000500600900


Modifiable

Images

Sounds

Videos


Extendible

Plot

File Structure

Game Structure


Extendible

Plot

File Structure

Game Structure

(open ended concept)(can add videos)


Extendible

Plot

File Structure

Game Structure


(profile folders with custom sounds, ideally images in future)


Extendible

Plot

File Structure

Game Structure


(profile folders with custom sounds, ideally images in future)

(Games as independent classes)


Code Reuse

Abstract classes if possible

Abstract game design


Code Reuse

Abstract classes if possibleHard to know beforehand how to do these

Abstract game design


FinalThoughts

Measuring SuccessTest Performance after repeated treatment:

Conflict ResolutionChild ANT (Attention Network Test)Stroop, Simon, Flanker

Working MemoryN-Back test

IQ scores and more


Measuring SuccessTest Performance after repeated treatment:

Not enough time or resources


Measuring SuccessPreliminary testing on children:

Seems Fun

Keeps their attention

Games intuitive?


Problems Encountered

• Unclear what input to use

• Mixed messages

• Psychology concepts somewhat vague


Problems Encountered

• Unclear what input to useMouse, Joystick, Keyboard

• Mixed messages

• Psychology concepts somewhat vague


Future Work

Create more games


Future Work

Run many children with the games I madeCompare ANT to first generation of gamesTest on children with ADHD

Measure child game play Head movementsTrack eyes


References• Raz Lab’s games: http://www.teach-the-brain.org/learn/attention/

• “Training, maturation, and genetic influences on the development of executive attention”, Posner et al 2005

• “Alerting, Orienting, and Executive Attention”, Mezzacappa 2004• “Computer-assisted Attention Training in Schizophrenics”, M. Hermanutz

and J. Gestrich 1991• “Training Working Memory in Children With ADHD”, Klingberg et al 2002• “Typologies of attentional networks”, Raz and Buhle 2006


http://www.teach-the-brain.org/learn/attention/

http://www.teach-the-brain.org/learn/attention/

Documents

Computer Assisted Attention Training