Cognitive Modeling To Inform the Design of Executive Function Training

2018 Fiscal Year Annual Research Report

• Project/Area Number: 18H05804
• Allocation Type: Single-year Grants
• Research Institution: The University of Tokyo
• Principal Investigator: Robb Nigel 東京大学, 教養学部, 特任講師 (00825466)
• Project Period (FY): 2018-08-24 – 2020-03-31
• Keywords: Cognitive Modelling / Executive Function / Cognitive Training

Outline of Annual Research Achievements

To date, I have performed a literature review of research on executive function training using the Leabra algorithm. I have implemented a version of the cognitive model used by Rougier et al. (2005) in the software Emergent version 8.5.2 using the Leabra learning algorithm. I have begun to modify the model to simulate the kinds of cognitive tasks performed by players of action video games. I have piloted training the model with several versions of these video game tasks. I have partially written a work-in-progress paper on this piloting work to be submitted to an international confernce.

Reference
Rougier et al. (2005). Prefrontal cortex and flexible cognitive control: Rules without symbols. Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences, 102(20), 7338-7343.

Current Status of Research Progress

2: Research has progressed on the whole more than it was originally planned.

Reason

While it was expected that modifying the model to simulate tasks performed by video game players would take time, some unexpected extra work is required to (1) select appropriate video games tasks and (2) determine how to simplfy the tasks so as to best represent them in the cognitive model. However, this has not affected the planned schedule significantly. In fact, it means that some additional new work will be completed. This work can potentially be published in a work-in-progress paper.

Strategy for Future Research Activity

It is expected that piloting of the model will be completed by July 2019. During the period August to October 2019, I will run the training, analyze the results, and prepare a scientific paper to submit to an open access journal in the field of computational cognitive science/neuroscience.

I plan to submit a work-in-progress paper on the selection and development of video game tasks to use in the cognitive model to the IEEE Confernce on Games (to be held in London, UK, August 2019). I also intend to submit an abstract to the Asian Conference on Education (to be held in Tokyo, November 2019). In addition, I have been invited to present the research project at a faculty research forum at the University of Tokyo in late 2019 or early 2020.