Attention Training:
As humans, we choose where to look 3-4 times every second. Each choice entails an evaluation of the visual scene, the decision to shift attention to an area of interest, a plan to move the eye the appropriate amount and direction, and the execution of a fast orienting eye movement called a saccade.
Since saccades are the culmination of so much processing, they require a lot of neural resources. That is why we use them as a sensitive, non-invasive measure of attention and motor planning. Eye movements can be observed and are easy to measure. Attention cannot be observed directly and we can measure attention only by observing the way it affects our information processing, learning, and memory.
It is generally the case that attention and eyes move together so that gaze and attention are in the same location — and they share much of the same brain circuitry. There is evidence from animal research that shifts of attention precede gaze shifts and mark the location for an eye movement. It is possible, of course, to separate attention and gaze—think of a cat looking away but attending closely the entrance to a mouse hole in the wall.
Our understanding of how eye movement and attention work together allows us to use eye movement to train attention. The games we have developed gradually shape behavior using visual and auditory feedback provided in real-time. They are designed to improve the speed, accuracy, and control of eye movement and in doing so they improve the speed, accuracy, and control of attention.
A major challenge in training attention and motor skills such as eye movement is the amount of time required and the necessity for frequent practice. It is difficult, if not impossible, to administer frequent and lengthy training in a laboratory or clinic where eye movements and behavior can be accurately monitored. Our games are designed for use at home or in school which makes frequent training flexible and easy.
UC San Diego Study
Funded by the National Institutes of Health, BrainLeap’s games were initially created and tested at UC San Diego. The pilot clinical trial included 23 individuals, aged 9-25.
All 23 of the participants who completed the at-home training study showed improvements in at least one measure of attention and most showed improvements on multiple measures. On average, there was a 68% improvement in fast and accurate shifts of attention (Etask), a 55% improvement in inhibitory control (anti-saccade), and there was a 30% improvement in focus (NICHQ)*.
*The NICHQ questionnaires were only completed for the last 12 of the 23 participants.
U of Florida – Gainesville Study
To measure improvements outside the lab, BrainLeap built gamified assessments that emulate the in-lab measurements. Using this suite of attention training games and corresponding assessments, an independent researcher at the University of Florida – Gainesville ran a study in an afterschool program. The 19 participants in the study had reading and attention challenges.
The average improvements across the three measures of attention were: a 32% improvement in fast and accurate shifts of attention (Tiger Trot), a 65% improvement in inhibitory control (Gone Fishing), and a 35% improvement in fast gaze shifts (Specter Collector).
Results by Test Session
With the in-suite assessments, BrainLeap tests users at regular intervals to see improvement over time. These data show the ongoing improvements.
Tiger Trot (Fast Attention Shifts)
This assessment measures the ability of students to quickly shift attention to the peripheral stimulus (covert attention) while maintaining central gaze. The red line shows the accuracy when students are cued 100 milliseconds before being shown the response stimulus. The blue line shows the accuracy when cued 800 milliseconds before the stimulus. Students showed significant improvement for both cue conditions.
Gone Fishing (Inhibitory Control)
This assessment requires the student to switch between looking at the fish when it pops up (prosaccade), and looking away from the turtle when it pops up (anti-saccade, which requires inhibitory control). Students show improvement in the anti-saccade task while in the easier prosaccade task they remain consistently accurate.
Specter Collector (Fast Gaze Shifts)
This assessment measures the ability of students to quickly and accurately shift their gaze to ghosts that are close to the collection tank and farther from the collection tank. Students showed improvement with each test session with all students collecting 100% of the ghosts in the fourth test session.
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