Training children's cognitive functions using eye-tracking technology

Abstract

The active development of eye-tracking, that is, recording of eye movements, gives opportunities for the creation of new approaches to the improving of cognitive functions and learning. Eye-tracking based methods can be useful not only for children with impaired motor and speech functions, but also for children with attention disorders, since gaze control is closely related to attention. Feedback from the gaze accuracy can improve the effectiveness of attention training techniques. In this paper, we describe studies of the effectiveness of the use of correctional techniques based on eye-tracking in infants (healthy group and groups with various risks for cognitive impairment) and in children with developmental disorders (autism, Rett syndrome, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder). In almost all of the studies reviewed, positive effects of training were observed, i. e. both the productivity of the tasks performance and sustained attention were improved. A number of studies have revealed the transfer of the training effect to untrained functions, which is an important indicator of the effectiveness of correction techniques. All this indicates the perspective of development in this direction. However, much work is to be done, such as selecting and creating the most effective tasks, determining the optimal frequency and duration of training for different clinical groups.