Training children's cognitive functions using eye-tracking technology

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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.

General Information

Keywords: eye-tracking, attention, cognitive functions, development, ADHD, ASD, Rett syndrome

Journal rubric: General Psychology

Article type: review article

DOI: https://doi.org/10.17759/jmfp.2023120405

Funding. The reported study was funded by Russian Science Foundation, project number 23-28-01668, https://rscf.ru/project/23-28-01668

Received: 30.09.2023

Accepted:

For citation: Rebreikina A.B., Liaukovich K. M. Training children's cognitive functions using eye-tracking technology [Elektronnyi resurs]. Sovremennaia zarubezhnaia psikhologiia = Journal of Modern Foreign Psychology, 2023. Vol. 12, no. 4, pp. 51–61. DOI: 10.17759/jmfp.2023120405. (In Russ., аbstr. in Engl.)

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Information About the Authors

Anna B. Rebreikina, PhD in Biology, Researcher, Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Researcher, Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0001-5714-2040, e-mail: anna.rebreikina@gmail.com

Krystsina . Liaukovich, PhD in Biology, Researcher, Laboratory of Human Higher Nervous Activity, Institute of Higher Nervous Activity and Neurophysiology of RAS,, Moscow, Russia, ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-1016-2703, e-mail: kliaukovich@ihna.ru

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