CHILDREN'S LEARNING BRAIN METER

描述（由申请人提供）：目前，儿童认知脑功能的测量是在重复的人工心理测量测试中进行的。从这些测量中推断出的孩子在现实世界的实际学习能力可能是有限的。因此，我们建议实现一种能够方便、准确地测量儿童在学习练习和游戏中与学习相关的神经电脑电图信号的自动化系统。基于我们实验室最新的技术和科学进步，我们提出的设备将为教育研究人员和临床医生提供关于儿童学习过程中大脑皮层区域激活的其他不可获得的信息。这些信息将有助于前者更准确地评估教育策略和课件，后者将有助于评估儿童在功能关键和发展必要的学习过程中的神经认知能力。在第一阶段，我们论证了拟议系统的科学和技术可行性。特别地，我们说明了参与复杂计算机任务（如玩视频游戏）的儿童的区域皮层激活的神经电脑电图信号可以有效地监测。第二阶段的工作将扩展可行性研究，并将开发、测试、完善和验证在基于计算机的学习活动中儿童大脑功能的自动脑电图测量，包括规范和学习困难的临床人群。这些措施将被纳入高通量自动化测试系统。该系统将使基于计算机的儿童学习的系统研究成为可能，初步规范的制定将为该系统用于临床评估和改进治疗干预措施铺平道路。这项技术也可以在未来的“闭环”神经适应系统中发挥重要作用，该系统可以实时监测与任务相关的神经活动，以提高课件和学习效率。儿童学习脑计是一种很有前途的新型自动化高通量技术，当儿童坐在普通房间的书桌前进行基于计算机的学习练习和游戏时，它可以测量大脑电信号。它将为教育研究人员和临床医生提供关于儿童在学习过程中大脑皮层区域激活的其他不可获得的信息。该系统将使基于计算机的儿童学习的系统研究成为可能，初步规范的制定将为该系统用于临床评估和改进治疗干预措施铺平道路。

DESCRIPTION (provided by applicant): Currently, measurements of a child's cognitive brain function are made during repetitive, artificial psychometric tests. The generalization of inferences from such measures to a child's actual real-world learning ability may be limited. Accordingly, we propose to implement a first-of-its-kind automated system that conveniently and accurately measures learning-related neuroelectric EEG signals of children engaged in learning exercises and games. Building on recent technological and scientific advances in our lab, the proposed device will provide otherwise unavailable information to both educational researchers and to clinicians about a child's regional cortical brain activation during learning. Such information will help the former to more accurately evaluate educational strategies and courseware, and the later to assess a child's neurocognitive capabilities during the functionally critical and developmentally essential process of learning. During Phase I, we demonstrated the scientific and technical feasibility of the proposed system. In particular, we illustrated that neuroelectric EEG signals of regional cortical activation of children engaged in complex computerized tasks such as video game play could be validly monitored. The Phase II work will extend the feasibility study and will develop, test, refine, and validate automated EEG measures of a child's brain function during computer-based learning activities in both normative and learning-challenged clinical populations. The measures will be incorporated into a high-throughput automated testing system. This system will enable systematic research on computer-based learning for children, and development of preliminary norms will pave the way for the system to be used clinically to evaluate and refine therapeutic interventions. The technology could also be instrumental in future "closed-loop" neuroadaptive systems that use real time monitoring of task-related neural activation to improve courseware and learning efficiency. PUBLIC HEALTH RELEVANCE The Children's Learning Brain Meter is a promising new automated high-throughput technology that measures brain electrical signals as a child engages in computer-based learning exercises and games while sitting at a desk in an ordinary room. It will provide otherwise unavailable information to educational researchers and clinicians about a child's regional cortical brain activation during learning. This system will enable systematic research on computer-based learning for children, and development of preliminary norms will pave the way for the system to be used clinically to evaluate and refine therapeutic interventions.