NIH funds software-based brain plasticity trials

The National Institutes of Health is funding development of software to help stroke victims and schizophrenia sufferers. The $3.65 million comes in two grants to a company that specializes in treatments based on principles of brain plasticity, the science of driving brain changes through cognitive exercise.

Brain Plasticity will use the funding for both software development and clinical trials.

The trials concern cognitive exercises and a software-based program for the treatment for hemi-spatial neglect, a consequence of some strokes. The condition can leave sufferers unable to notice or interact with half of their visual world and it can lead to long-term disability, says BPI in an announcement. The effort furthers research into the use of cognitive exercises to improve brain function in normally aging individuals.

The schizophrenia effort involves development of a cognitive remediation program involving software to improve memory and attention. Such improvements may help patients live more independent lives.

- here's the announcement