Monotonous game-like task to promote effortless automatic recognition of sight words

Abstract

System and methods are provided to promote effortless automatic recognition of common sight words. A subject performs a game-like task that generates novel non-verbal visual stimuli that triggers visual attention shifts that enhance foveal and parafoveal recognition of non-verbal and verbal stimuli laterally presented in the right or left visual field. The present invention engages a shared motor-perceptual-cognitive neural network involving oculomotor, visuo-motor and selective executive cognitive behaviors on both brain hemispheres. The present invention has applications to a wide range of non-verbal pre-orthographic visual processes and early lexical processes, not only contributing to enabling reading fluency to dyslexics, reluctant and slow readers, but also to beginning readers. The present invention has wide applications in learning disabilities and normative individuals learning to read.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A computer-implemented method for producing interactive visuo-motor and/or interactive oculomotor non-verbal stimuli in a subject, the method comprising:
 initiating a first active resting cycle (ARC) for a user, wherein the first ARC corresponds to a first challenging parameter level;   displaying a first visualization of first and second graphical objects on a display communicatively coupled with one or more processors, the second graphical object comprising a pathway having a geometric wave form and a graphical reference marker equidistant from a left and a right borderline of the pathway, wherein the first graphical object is located within the left and right borderline of the pathway;   receiving, via an input device communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, a command from a user to change a display position of the first graphical object, wherein the command is based on visuo-motor voluntary control of the user;   changing a display position of the first graphical object on the display based on the received command from the user;   periodically measuring a distance between the first graphical object and the graphical reference marker;   calculating a performance score for the user based on the measured distances and the first challenging parameter level;   comparing the performance score for the user to a difficulty threshold corresponding to the first challenging parameter level to determine a second challenging parameter level; and   initiating a second ARC for the user, wherein the second ARC corresponds to the second challenging parameter level.   
     
     
         2 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein changing the display position of the first graphical object further comprises:
 applying predefined kinematical rules to the command to determine a new display position for the first graphical object.   
     
     
         3 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein calculating the performance score for the user further comprises:
 calculating an average of a square of each measured distance;   determining a raw score based on the calculated average; and   applying a score correction factor associated with the first challenging parameter level to the raw score;   
     
     
         4 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein comparing the performance score for the user to the difficulty threshold further comprises:
 increasing the first challenging parameter level when the performance score for the user is higher than the difficulty threshold; and   decreasing the first challenging parameter level when the performance score for the user is lower than the difficulty threshold;   
     
     
         5 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the display position of the first graphical object is changed under visuo-motor voluntary control of the subject using a mouse. 
     
     
         6 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein displaying the first visualization of the first graphical object on the display comprises displaying a first graphic mobile planar object configured to move along a predefined area of the second graphical object represented as a second graphic mobile planar object. 
     
     
         7 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the first graphical object is selected from a group of graphic mobile objects comprising a car, a bird, a panther, and a yacht. 
     
     
         8 . The method of  claim 1 , further comprising:
 providing sensorial feedback information to the subject comprising a degree of navigation smoothness of the first graphical object.   
     
     
         9 . The method of  claim 1 , wherein the second graphical object is selected from a group of graphical objects comprising a road, a river, and a canyon. 
     
     
         10 . A system for producing interactive visuo-motor and/or interactive oculomotor non-verbal stimuli in a subject, the system comprising:
 a memory; and   at least one processor coupled to the memory and configured to:
 initiate a first active resting cycle (ARC) for a user, wherein the first ARC corresponds to a first challenging parameter level; 
 display a first visualization of first and second graphical objects on a display communicatively coupled with one or more processors, the second graphical object comprising a pathway having a geometric wave form and a graphical reference marker equidistant from a left and a right borderline of the pathway, wherein the first graphical object is located within the left and right borderline of the pathway; 
 receive, via an input device communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, a command from a user to change a display position of the first graphical object, wherein the command is based on visuo-motor voluntary control of the user; 
 change a display position of the first graphical object on the display based on the received command from the user; 
 periodically measure a distance between the first graphical object and the graphical reference marker; 
 calculate a performance score for the user based on the measured distances and the first challenging parameter level; 
 compare the performance score for the user to a difficulty threshold corresponding to the first challenging parameter level to determine a second challenging parameter level; and 
 initiate a second ARC for the user, wherein the second ARC corresponds to the second challenging parameter level. 
   
     
     
         11 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein to change the display position of the first graphical object the at least one processor is further configured to:
 apply predefined kinematical rules to the command to determine a new display position for the first graphical object.   
     
     
         12 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein to calculate the performance score for the user the at least one processor is further configured to:
 calculate an average of a square of each measured distance;   determine a raw score based on the calculated average; and   apply a score correction factor associated with the first challenging parameter level to the raw score;   
     
     
         13 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein to compare the performance score for the user to the difficulty threshold the at least one processor is further configured to:
 increase the first challenging parameter level when the performance score for the user is higher than the difficulty threshold; and   decrease the first challenging parameter level when the performance score for the user is lower than the difficulty threshold;   
     
     
         14 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the display position of the first graphical object is changed under visuo-motor voluntary control of the subject using a mouse. 
     
     
         15 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein to display the first visualization of the first graphical object the at least one processor is further configured to display a first graphic mobile planar object configured to move along a predefined area of the second graphical object represented as a second graphic mobile planar object. 
     
     
         16 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the first graphical object is selected from a group of graphic mobile objects comprising a car, a bird, a panther, and a yacht. 
     
     
         17 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the at least one processor is further configured to:
 provide sensorial feedback information to the subject comprising a degree of navigation smoothness of the first graphical object.   
     
     
         18 . The system of  claim 10 , wherein the second graphical object is selected from a group of graphical objects comprising a road, a river, and a canyon. 
     
     
         19 . A non-transitory computer-readable storage device having computer-executable instructions stored thereon for producing interactive visuo-motor and/or interactive oculomotor non-verbal stimuli in a subject, execution of which, by a computing device, causes the computing device to perform operations comprising:
 initiating a first active resting cycle (ARC) for a user, wherein the first ARC corresponds to a first challenging parameter level;   displaying a first visualization of first and second graphical objects on a display communicatively coupled with one or more processors, the second graphical object comprising a pathway having a geometric wave form and a graphical reference marker equidistant from a left and a right borderline of the pathway, wherein the first graphical object is located within the left and right borderline of the pathway;   receiving, via an input device communicatively coupled with the one or more processors, a command from a user to change a display position of the first graphical object, wherein the command is based on visuo-motor voluntary control of the user;   changing a display position of the first graphical object on the display based on the received command from the user;   periodically measuring a distance between the first graphical object and the graphical reference marker;   calculating a performance score for the user based on the measured distances and the first challenging parameter level;   comparing the performance score for the user to a difficulty threshold corresponding to the first challenging parameter level to determine a second challenging parameter level; and   initiating a second ARC for the user, wherein the second ARC corresponds to the second challenging parameter level.   
     
     
         20 . The non-transitory computer-readable storage device of  claim 19 , wherein to compare the performance score for the user to the difficulty threshold the operations further comprise:
 increasing the first challenging parameter level when the performance score for the user is higher than the difficulty threshold; and   decreasing the first challenging parameter level when the performance score for the user is lower than the difficulty threshold;