DD221634A1 - COMBINED IRRITATION REACTION PULT FOR PSYCHICAL PERFORMANCE SIZE DIAGNOSTICS - Google Patents

Abstract

In the field of psychological performance diagnostics, the collection and assessment of perceptual qualities is of the highest interest. Various apparatus solutions for the detection of individual, special perceptual qualities are existent, but only allow complex examinations with a great deal of equipment, operating and evaluation effort and permit only a low degree of comparability of the test results. The invention relates to the apparatus solution for the combined presentation of different stimuli and detection of appropriate stimulus perceptual qualities. The type of stimulus can be varied and combined, so that different perceptual qualities can be recorded one after the other or at the same time, whereby qualitatively new possibilities of diagnostics are achieved. The stimulus-response desk contains in one unit functional elements that make it possible to carry out psychological performance tests in the following directions: - reaction, coordination, concentration and learning investigations- determination of the flicker fusion and flicker cutoff frequency- examination of psychomotor skills.The stimulus presentation and reaction evaluation take place over a remote microcomputer. Communication with the computer takes place via an also remote control panel. All three functional elements are transportable and thus suitable for use outside the laboratory.

Description

See 1 page drawings'

, Field of application of the invention

The invention relates to a device which is used for the presentation of visual and / or acoustic stimulus patterns for subjects (patients or volunteers) and expects a likewise defined response by pressing the subject. Evaluation of this response by a microcomputer determines specific reaction times, stimulus-response relationships (false / correct response), psychomotor skills (tapping), and visual system performance on flicker stimuli (determination of flicker fusion frequency and flicker cutoff frequency).

The device can be used for reaction, concentration and learning examinations, the determination of the film merger and flicker limit frequency as well as examinations of the psychomotor with respect to ''',''

- the recording of performance possibilities and limits

- ^L of the diagnostic examination of therapeutic and rehabilitative processes -r capturing vori in performance in organic brain impairment -i- the effect verification performance influencing substances

- the study of the influence of fatigue and stress factors on mental performance factors.

Thus, fields of application arise predominantly in clinical psychology, clinical pharmacology, traffic and sports medicine, educational and work psychology. Through programmable test procedures, it serves to objectify test results and reduces the evaluation effort by using the microcomputer.

Characteristic of the known technical solutions

It is known that for the o.g. Areas of application of the most diverse special devices exist, which also allow through stimulus-response relationships statements about individual psychological features. For the collection of different performance features, however, different devices are needed, which differ by their evaluation strategies and thus a complex practical investigation of different performance qualities by the reduced comparability of the device-specific evaluation results is not possible. Furthermore, the high operating costs of several devices of different manufacturers, as they are needed for complex investigations / negative impact on the investigation process and requires the experimenter extensive user knowledge. '

'/ 1 / Catalog 1180 Volume 1-3 of the company "Lafayette Instrument Co" / 2 / Catalogs of the company "ΖΑΚ" GmbH, Limbach-Inn for the determination device DTG3, DTG4

Work and concentration tester AKTG 2; Concentration Performance Tester KLTG I Attention Examiner APG 2

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/ 3 / Catalog of the company "Varimex" Poland to the PS 10

/ 4 / Pucbtä, K .; Walther, H .; Meyer, F.P .: i

>, Microcomputer-controlled measuring station for programmed and adaptive reaction testing ", medizintechnik, Berlin (1983) 4,8,116-119

Object of the invention

The aim of the invention is the various possibilities of stimulus presentation by means of ^:

- LED light fields of different colors *

7-segment arrangements whose segments consist of individual LEDs,

- Tones or noise and

- Irritating non-irritating correlated noises as well as the different possibilities of the response by means of

- hand buttons

- footswitch

- Metal stylus

- Special keys

as well as the feedback of reaction results (right / wrong / faster) by means of luminous writing fields to the test person, for psychological test tasks like. ../ \

- Reaction, coordination, concentration and learning tests

- Determination of Flimmerschmmelzungs- and flicker limit frequency and

- Psychomotor skills

in a device so that both each function is to be detected individually, as well as the simultaneous complex acquisition of multiple performance factors for the highest possible practice simulation is possible.

What @ n the invention

The object of the invention is to realize a device which combines all the functional elements for reaction, coordination, concentration and learning ability examinations, for the detection of flicker fusion and ciliary cut-off frequency and psychomotor abilities of subjects for psychological test visits. Through this union qualitatively new possibilities arise, the diagnostics, in that at the same time different perception qualities are included in the investigation and thus a higher complexity is achieved.

Features of the invention

According to the invention, the object is achieved in that a desk, which is controlled by a microcomputer, the function elements for the stimulus presentation - LED light panels of different colors

 -7-segment arrangement for the generation of arbitrary pre-existing stimulus patterns and, ί

- Generators for sounds and noise

the functional elements for stimulus activation

- hand buttons

- optional connection of a foot key or a morse key (tapping) or a contact stylus (tremor examination) or other special keys

and the functional elements to feedback the reaction quality (wrong / correct / faster) to stimulate the experimental process in the form of labeled illuminated fields contains. The acoustic stimulus pattern as well as instructive and non-irritating irritating (generated by tape) signals are presented to the subject via the headphones connectable headphones. The activation of the individual acoustic stimuli is done by the microcomputer via analogue switches.

A buzzer amplifier mixes all the acoustic information.

Each LED color field, each segment of the 7-segment display as well as each information field for the feedback of the

Reaction quality can be switched on individually by means of an output gate of the microcomputer. ,

Each individual key for answering the stimulus pattern can be individually interrogated via input ports of the microcomputer. The relationship between output and input gates is realized by means of a software corresponding to the individual test tasks.

The parameter specification for the selection of the desired tests and the presentation of the test results are carried out by means of a keyboard connected to the microcomputer and a display on a control panel associated with the test person.

Ausführungsbeisptel

The device consists of a stimulus-response desk (Figure 1), which is controlled by a microcomputer. f

It contains the functional elements for the stimulus presentation, for the response to the response and for the feedback of the answer quality.

a) Functional elements for the stimulus presentation

- 3 LED color fields (red, green, yellow) (2) consisting of 9 LEDs each. Each field individually switchable by the computer.

- two 7-segment displays. Each segment consists of four rectangular LEDs. Each segment can be individually switched by the computer (3).

- Socket for headphones, for acoustic stimulus presentation of three generated by sine wave generators (500Hz, 1 kHz, 2kHz) individually switchable via analog switch through the computer and noise (also switchable via analog switch through the computer) and instructive and irritating acoustic information (connection via Computer or manually on the control panel). The volume for the sum signal is via a potentiometer with ^; Graduation (7) individually determined.

b) Funktionsalementß for the answer

, - Five large, short-stroke buttons for manual operation of different colors for determination tasks and as signaling buttons for determining flicker-fuse and flicker cut-off frequency (1)

- Socket for connection of a button for foot control or a Morse key (for tapping examinations) or a contact stylus (for tremor examinations) or other buttons for special examinations for psychomotricity (5). When using this jack, the left hand button (1) is turned off. Take over the connected elements

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c) functional elements for the feedback of the quality of the response to the subject - four illuminated fields, consisting of frosted glass panes with high-contrast lettering, eg. Eg "right", "wrong" (4). The fields can be switched by the computer, but can also be switched manually from the control panel. .

The experimenter programs, controls and analyzes the tests via the control panel and can also give instructions to the test subject via microphone during the test.

Claims (1)

,. ,: -. '·. ; '. ^: ·, -Ι- 257474 4 Invention claims: 1 Combined stimulus-Reäktions console for the diagnosis of mental performance variables based on the detection of optical and acoustic signals or stimulus combinations and psychomotor reactions to these signals, characterized in that on a computer-aided console seven-segment displays, color displays, sound or Sound generators, InformationsJeuchtfelder to stimulate the experimental procedure as well as switchable buttons for stimulus evaluation or for recording psychomotor services are united. 2 Combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1, characterized in that composed of colored light-emitting seven-segment displays in the defined angle of inclination to the upper panel surface and with a defined distance from one another, are arranged on the desk. I3 Combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1, characterized in that the seven-segment displays individually or simultaneously, as well as individual segments are controlled by the computer and thus arbitrary stimulus patterns can be generated. 4 Combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1, characterized in that labeled at the defined distance from the seven-segment displays, individually switchable light fields for computer-controlled stimulation of the experimental procedure, for. are arranged as stressors in the sense of mediating time pressure and the transmission of misinformation. 5 Combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1, characterized in that the stimulus presentation rectangular or square color displays of different colors are used, each consisting of a number of light-emitting diodes same color. 6 combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1 and 5, characterized in that the computational control of the color displays reversibly allows both reaction, concentration and learning ability checks and the determination of the psychomotor tempo (tapping test) by specifying a guide frequency, which is to be simulated by pressing a key from the patient and this keystroke is evaluated by the computer. 7 Combined stimulus-response panel according to item T and 5, characterized in that the computational control of the color displays switchable both reaction, concentration and learning ability checks as well as the determination of Filmmerschlemeizungsfrequenz by programmed ascending and descending flicker frequencies and key press allows. 8 Combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1, characterized in that at the desk a headphone output for the performance of sounds and noises to detect the reaction rate to acoustic stimuli and the transmission of additional instructive and irritating information and a knob operated volume control : are attached. ' 9 Combined stimulus-response desk according to item 1, characterized in that buttons are arranged at equal intervals in the gripping space, so that the reaction path is the same. 10 Combined stimulus-response lectern according to item 1 and 9, characterized in that a key port is set up so that switchable additional reactions by foot and the detection of the psychomotor tempo are possible.