Method of improving neuropsychological function in patients with neurocognitive disorders

Abstract

The present invention provides methods of improving neuropsychological function in a patient having a neurocognitive disorder by chemical or electrically modulating a target site(s) in the ventral striatum/ventral capsule region. Methods also include modulating the treatment based on a closed-loop feedback system that measures bodily activities associated with the neuropsychological function (i.e. that help to determine whether a neuropsychological function is or can be improved.

1 - 22 . (canceled) 
     
     
         23 . A method of improving neurodevelopmental function in a patient suffering from autism comprising:
 identifying a patient suffering from autism;   placing a delivery device on a target site in the parahippocampal gyrus, basal forebrain (including the nucleus basalis of Meynert and substantia innominata), olfactory cortex, temporal pole cortex, anterior insula cortex, periaqueductal gray, superior parietal lobule, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, post-cingulate, or any combination thereof; and   activating the delivery device to apply an activation signal to the target site to improve the neurodevelopmental function in the patient.   
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the delivery device is an electrode and the activation signal is an electrical signal. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the delivery device is a catheter or drug port and the activation is a chemical signal. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the neurodevelopmental function is social communication. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the neurodevelopmental function is emotional recognition. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 23 , wherein the neurodevelopmental function is motivational behavior. 
     
     
         29 . A method of improving neurodevelopmental function in a patient suffering from autism, the method comprising:
 identifying a patient suffering from autism; and   activating a delivery device to apply an activation signal to a target site in the parahippocampal gyrus, basal forebrain (including the nucleus basalis of Meynert and substantia innominata), olfactory cortex, temporal pole cortex, anterior insula cortex, periaqueductal gray, superior parietal lobule, superior frontal gyrus, middle frontal gyrus, inferior frontal gyrus, medial frontal gyrus, post-cingulate, or any combination thereof of the patient in response to a sensor signal which detects a bodily activity associated with the neurodevelopmental function to improve the neurodevelopmental function.