PDF(Pubmed)
Abstract：
BACKGROUND: Impaired cognitive function is observed in many pathologies, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer disease. At present, the pharmaceutical treatments available to counter cognitive decline have only modest effects, with significant side effects. A nonpharmacological treatment that has received considerable attention is computerized cognitive training (CCT), which aims to maintain or improve cognitive functioning through repeated practice in standardized exercises. CCT allows for more regular and thorough training of cognitive functions directly at home, which represents a significant opportunity to prevent and fight cognitive decline. However, the presence of assistance during training seems to be an important parameter to improve patients\' motivation and adherence to treatment. To compensate for the absence of a therapist during at-home CCT, a relevant option could be to include a virtual assistant to accompany patients throughout their training.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate the interest of including a virtual assistant to accompany patients during CCT. We investigated the relationship between various individual factors (eg, age, psycho-affective functioning, personality, personal motivations, and cognitive skills) and the appreciation and usefulness of a virtual assistant during CCT. This study is part of the THERADIA (Thérapies Digitales Augmentées par l\'Intelligence Artificielle) project, which aims to develop an empathetic virtual assistant.
METHODS: A total of 104 participants were recruited, including 52 (50%) young adults (mean age 21.2, range 18 to 27, SD 2.9 years) and 52 (50%) older adults (mean age 67.9, range 60 to 79, SD 5.1 years). All participants were invited to the laboratory to answer several questionnaires and perform 1 CCT session, which consisted of 4 cognitive exercises supervised by a virtual assistant animated by a human pilot via the Wizard of Oz method. The participants evaluated the virtual assistant and CCT at the end of the session.
RESULTS: Analyses were performed using the Bayesian framework. The results suggest that the virtual assistant was appreciated and perceived as useful during CCT in both age groups. However, older adults rated the assistant and CCT more positively overall than young adults. Certain characteristics of users, especially their current affective state (ie, arousal, intrinsic relevance, goal conduciveness, and anxiety state), appeared to be related to their evaluation of the session.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides, for the first time, insight into how young and older adults perceive a virtual assistant during CCT. The results suggest that such an assistant could have a beneficial influence on users\' motivation, provided that it can handle different situations, particularly their emotional state. The next step of our project will be to evaluate our device with patients experiencing mild cognitive impairment and to test its effectiveness in long-term cognitive training.
OBJECTIVE: The objective of this exploratory study was to evaluate the interest of including a virtual assistant to accompany patients during CCT. We investigated the relationship between various individual factors (eg, age, psycho-affective functioning, personality, personal motivations, and cognitive skills) and the appreciation and usefulness of a virtual assistant during CCT. This study is part of the THERADIA (Thérapies Digitales Augmentées par l\'Intelligence Artificielle) project, which aims to develop an empathetic virtual assistant.
METHODS: A total of 104 participants were recruited, including 52 (50%) young adults (mean age 21.2, range 18 to 27, SD 2.9 years) and 52 (50%) older adults (mean age 67.9, range 60 to 79, SD 5.1 years). All participants were invited to the laboratory to answer several questionnaires and perform 1 CCT session, which consisted of 4 cognitive exercises supervised by a virtual assistant animated by a human pilot via the Wizard of Oz method. The participants evaluated the virtual assistant and CCT at the end of the session.
RESULTS: Analyses were performed using the Bayesian framework. The results suggest that the virtual assistant was appreciated and perceived as useful during CCT in both age groups. However, older adults rated the assistant and CCT more positively overall than young adults. Certain characteristics of users, especially their current affective state (ie, arousal, intrinsic relevance, goal conduciveness, and anxiety state), appeared to be related to their evaluation of the session.
CONCLUSIONS: This study provides, for the first time, insight into how young and older adults perceive a virtual assistant during CCT. The results suggest that such an assistant could have a beneficial influence on users\' motivation, provided that it can handle different situations, particularly their emotional state. The next step of our project will be to evaluate our device with patients experiencing mild cognitive impairment and to test its effectiveness in long-term cognitive training.
摘要：
背景：在许多病理中观察到认知功能受损，包括神经退行性疾病，如阿尔茨海默病。目前,可用来对抗认知衰退的药物治疗只有适度的效果，有明显的副作用。一种受到相当关注的非药物治疗是计算机化认知训练(CCT)，旨在通过标准化练习中的反复练习来维持或改善认知功能。CCT可以直接在家中对认知功能进行更定期和彻底的训练，这代表了预防和对抗认知能力下降的重要机会。然而,训练期间的帮助似乎是提高患者积极性和治疗依从性的重要参数。为了弥补在家CCT期间治疗师的缺席，一个相关的选择可能是包括一个虚拟助手，在患者的整个训练过程中陪伴他们。
目的：这项探索性研究的目的是评估在CCT期间包括虚拟助手来陪伴患者的兴趣。我们调查了各种个体因素之间的关系(例如，年龄,心理情感功能，个性,个人动机,和认知技能）以及CCT期间虚拟助手的欣赏和有用性。这项研究是THERADIA（TherrapiesDigitalesAuggmentéesparl\'IntelligenceArtificielle）项目的一部分，旨在开发一个善解人意的虚拟助手。
方法：共招募了104名参与者，包括52名(50%)年轻人(平均年龄21.2岁,范围18~27岁,SD2.9岁)和52名(50%)老年人(平均年龄67.9岁,范围60~79岁,SD5.1岁).所有参与者都被邀请到实验室回答几个问卷，并进行1个CCT会议，其中包括4个认知练习，由人类飞行员通过绿野仙踪方法制作动画的虚拟助手监督。参与者在会话结束时评估虚拟助理和CCT。
结果：使用贝叶斯框架进行分析。结果表明，在两个年龄段的CCT期间，虚拟助手都受到赞赏并被认为是有用的。然而,老年人对助手和CCT的总体评价比年轻人更积极。用户的某些特征，尤其是他们当前的情感状态(即，唤醒,内在相关性，目标传导性，和焦虑状态)，似乎与他们对会议的评价有关。
结论：这项研究提供了，第一次,深入了解年轻人和老年人在CCT期间如何看待虚拟助手。结果表明，这样的助手可能会对用户的动机产生有益的影响，只要它能处理不同的情况，尤其是他们的情绪状态。我们项目的下一步将是评估我们的设备与患有轻度认知障碍的患者，并测试其在长期认知训练中的有效性。
目的：这项探索性研究的目的是评估在CCT期间包括虚拟助手来陪伴患者的兴趣。我们调查了各种个体因素之间的关系(例如，年龄,心理情感功能，个性,个人动机,和认知技能）以及CCT期间虚拟助手的欣赏和有用性。这项研究是THERADIA（TherrapiesDigitalesAuggmentéesparl\'IntelligenceArtificielle）项目的一部分，旨在开发一个善解人意的虚拟助手。
方法：共招募了104名参与者，包括52名(50%)年轻人(平均年龄21.2岁,范围18~27岁,SD2.9岁)和52名(50%)老年人(平均年龄67.9岁,范围60~79岁,SD5.1岁).所有参与者都被邀请到实验室回答几个问卷，并进行1个CCT会议，其中包括4个认知练习，由人类飞行员通过绿野仙踪方法制作动画的虚拟助手监督。参与者在会话结束时评估虚拟助理和CCT。
结果：使用贝叶斯框架进行分析。结果表明，在两个年龄段的CCT期间，虚拟助手都受到赞赏并被认为是有用的。然而,老年人对助手和CCT的总体评价比年轻人更积极。用户的某些特征，尤其是他们当前的情感状态(即，唤醒,内在相关性，目标传导性，和焦虑状态)，似乎与他们对会议的评价有关。
结论：这项研究提供了，第一次,深入了解年轻人和老年人在CCT期间如何看待虚拟助手。结果表明，这样的助手可能会对用户的动机产生有益的影响，只要它能处理不同的情况，尤其是他们的情绪状态。我们项目的下一步将是评估我们的设备与患有轻度认知障碍的患者，并测试其在长期认知训练中的有效性。
