The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Apr. 04, 2006
Filed:
Nov. 01, 2001
Michael Kilgard, Richardson, TX (US);
Michael M. Merzenich, San Francisco, CA (US);
Shaowen Bao, San Francisco, CA (US);
Michael Kilgard, Richardson, TX (US);
Michael M. Merzenich, San Francisco, CA (US);
Shaowen Bao, San Francisco, CA (US);
Scientific Learning Corporation, Berkeley, CA (US);
The University of Texas, Austin, TX (US);
The Regents of the University of California, Oakland, CA (US);
Abstract
The invention described herein provides computer-implemented methods and systems for alleviating an abnormal behavior, such as a behavior associated with a fear, abnormal activity, or obsession. It has been found that behaviorally abnormal self-sustaining behaviors may be unlearned or diminished through directed forms of computer-implemented interaction. The computer-implemented interaction is generally directed to reduce the neurological representations of inputs and actions associated with the abnormal behavior. The interaction will typically comprise strategically and repeatedly presenting computer-implemented stimuli including context related to the abnormal behavior. The computer-implemented stimuli are then repeatedly presented and altered over time in a manner that alleviates the abnormal behavior. For example, the content of the computer-implemented stimuli may change to gradually vary in their ability to trigger an episode in the person. In this manner, the neurological representation pertaining to the undesirable behavior may be gradually reduced.