Computerized Cognitive Training in Breast Cancer Survivors

The person is asked to clear the rows of blocks presented on the screen, either by moving them into horizontal or vertical blocks that have identical color. The goal is to refine and increase the response of primary visual cortex neurons and to enable the person to increase speed and accuracy of visual processing (executive function) and visual memory.

The user is first presented with a target bird. Subsequently, a group of birds is presented in the peripheral vision and then disappears when the trial begins. The user selects the section of the screen where the target bird appeared. The presentation speed adapts with user performance (i.e. better performance = faster presentation). The goal is to improve speed and accuracy of object identification in peripheral vision and improve visual precision important for improving memory.

The person is first presented objects (jewels) on the screen. The objects are then covered with occluders (bubbles) and then identical distracters are presented. The objects move around in screen and when the movement stops, the user chooses the occluders that cover the jewels. The number of jewels adapts to performance (more jewels = better performance). The goal is to improve divided visual attention, sustained visual attention, visual working memory, and visual precision.

The person is presented a series of target stimuli and distracters which are presented at one time and then disappear. The locations of the stimuli are marked by icons, and the user chooses the icons where the target stimuli were once located. The goal is to increase speed and accuracy as well as the ability to extract information accurately.

The person is presented with a target vehicle briefly in both the center of the screen and in one of eight locations in the periphery. Two vehicles are then presented briefly in the center of the screen, one of which is the target vehicle. The user must identify the location of the target vehicle in the periphery as well as identify which was the target vehicle that appeared in the center. The goal of this activity is to improve divided attention and ability to extract information and discard irrelevant information from peripheral vision.

The program offers a pre-determined set of computerized crossword puzzles. The site has over 100,000 puzzles and can be accessed easily via the web and are free to users. The computerized crossword puzzles do not provide for progressive challenges of increasing speed, visual field size, number of distractors or degree of difficulty of targeted stimulus differentiation.