Patent Publication Number: US-2011065071-A1

Title: Method and system for quantitative assessment of word identification latency

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
     This disclosure relates in general to the field of psychophysics, and more particularly to perceptual abnormalities associated with sensory and motor processing, and even more particularly to quantitative assessment of functional impairment. 
     BACKGROUND 
     Substantial literature exists describing cognitive and visual impairments due to neural dysfunctions, neurodegenerative diseases, and mental disorders. Visual functions, such as shape and motion processing, are impaired by neural dysfunctions. However, many visual abnormalities are unlikely to be uncovered during routine neurological examination. 
     A method and system for quantitative assessment of functional impairment enables for detection of and indicates diagnosis of a variety of neurological diseases and disorders. A system for sensory-motor quantitative neurocognitive assessment provides continuous feedback adjusted stimulation and its standardized scoring algorithms may provide for diagnosis for early stages of cognitive changes and visual impairments associated with a variety of neurological diseases and disorders. Quantitative assessment may aid in the investigation of cognitive and visual functions at various levels, including, but not limited to, contrast sensitivity, motion detection, depth recognition, and object recognition. 
     Further, quantitative assessment may indicate diagnosis of neurological diseases and disorders, which include Alzheimer&#39;s Disease, Parkinson&#39;s Disease, autism, depression, schizophrenia, Asperger&#39;s Syndrome, Williams Syndrome, among others. Alzheimer&#39;s Disease and Parkinson&#39;s Disease are the most common neurodegenerative diseases. Autism and depression are among the most common mental disorders. 
     Alzheimer&#39;s Disease is characterized pathologically by synaptic dysfunction and clinically by a decline in memory and cognition. Further, Alzheimer&#39;s Disease may be accompanied by attentional and perceptual deficits, including impaired visual motion and processing. Research studies suggest a perceptual basis of visuospatial disorientation in Alzheimer&#39;s Disease. Further, attentional dynamics in Alzheimer&#39;s Disease may limit the rate at which visual motion signals can be integrated into a coherent representation of self-movement. Alzheimer&#39;s Disease can begin with a wide variety of different symptoms and progresses through recognized clinical stages to include an increasing number of symptoms and worsening functional disability; research studies have demonstrated that all of these changes are accompanied by substantial impairments of perceptual-motor processing. 
     Currently, Alzheimer&#39;s Disease has no cure or preventive therapies, only symptomatic treatments. Diagnosis is usually be established with behavioral assessments and cognitive tests, often followed by one of more types of brain imaging. Researchers have known that Alzheimer&#39;s Disease is characterized by impairments in memory deficit and visual functions. Visual impairments in Alzheimer&#39;s Disease most commonly occur in motion, depth of field, color, and contrast. 
     Parkinson&#39;s Disease is a neurodegenerative disorder that impairs motor skills, speech, and thought processes, among other functions. Parkinson&#39;s Disease may be diagnosed based on clinical evaluations that reveal limb and truncal rigidity, tremor, and a slowing of physical movement and mental events. Non-motor symptoms may include autonomic dysfunction, cognitive abnormalities, sleep disorders, and sensory abnormalities. All of these symptoms are thought to the result of decreased stimulation of the cerebral areas caused by the insufficient formation and action of dopamine. 
     In addition, people with Parkinson&#39;s Disease usually develop some manifest eye movement control and visual processing problems, such as stare because they do not blink as frequently as before, and an inability to respond to visual motion cues that guide postural stabilization reflexes. The eyes may also have trouble fixating on objects and following objects as they move. Parkinson&#39;s Disease may impair visual processing and cause symptoms including reduced vision, poor color vision, and difficulties in appreciating the correct location or orientation of an object. 
     Autism is a brain developmental disorder that is characterized by widespread abnormalities of social interactions and communication. Individuals with autism also have difficulty with processing and responding to sensory information and use visual information inefficiently. Autistic people may have difficulty maintain visual attention and frequently rely on constant scanning of visual information in order to gain meaning, especially in the domain of social cues. Their symptoms reflect their inability to integrate their central and peripheral vision. 
     Eye movement disorders are common in Autism, but the most prominent visual symptom in autism is the aberrant local and global processing characterized by a superior perception of fine details. Another symptom in autism may be the impaired motion perception that may be also linked to abnormal perceptual integration. 
     Schizophrenia is a disabling brain disorder characterized by abnormalities in the perception of expression or reality. Much work in the cognitive neuroscience of schizophrenia has focused on attention and memory; however, perceptual functions and visual processing are substantially disrupted in schizophrenia. Schizophrenia may generally associated with deficits in higher-order processing of visual information at a cognitive level. Deficits in contrast sensitivity for moving and static gratings, from discrimination in noise and dot motion discrimination have also been reported in patients with schizophrenia. 
     People with schizophrenia fail to use contextual information to disambiguate visual information. Poor form processing, particularly object recognition, grouping, perceptual closure, contour integration, face processing, and reading are typically present in people with schizophrenia. 
     Asperger&#39;s Syndrome is an autism spectrum disorder. People with Asperger&#39;s Syndrome may show significant difficulties in social interaction, along with other restricted and repetitive patterns of behavior and interests. Asperger&#39;s Syndrome may differ from other autism spectrum disorders by its relative preservation of linguistic and cognitive development. However, physical clumsiness and atypical use of language may have been frequently reported. Asperger&#39;s Syndrome may begin in infancy or childhood, may have a steady course of decline relative to the age-matched cohort with impairments that may result from maturation-related changes in various systems. However, individuals with Asperger&#39;s Syndrome may have excellent basic auditory and visual perception despite impaired higher-order processing of emotional and social signals. 
     Williams Syndrome is a rare neurodevelopment disorder that may be caused by a deletion of about twenty-six genes from the long arm of chromosome seven. Williams Syndrome may be characterized by a distinctive elfin facial appearance, along with a low nasal bridge; an unusually cheerful demeanor and easer with strangers; mental retardation coupled with unusual language skills; a love for music; and cardiovascular problems, such as supravalvular aortic stenosis and transient hypercalcaemia. Further, individuals with Williams Syndrome may have problems with visual processing, which may be related to difficulty in dealing with complex spatial relationships rather than to issues with depth perception. 
     In many neural dysfunctions the cognitive capabilities are primarily affected; however, vision is impaired to some degree. The prevalence of basic visual defects raises naturally the question of their impact on cognitive functions and suggests that some cognitive impairments result directly or indirectly from deficiencies at a perceptive level rather than from a core cognitive problem. Hence cognitive impairments and vision impairments can be linked. 
     Brain imaging techniques and brain-scanning devices have been widely used in investigating cerebral functions and neuro-chemical changes; however, they are of little use in quantifying deficits in visual functions and are burdensome and cost-prohibitive when used to regularly monitor the progress of neurodegenerative disease and mental disorders. 
     Other tools, such as behavioral assessments and cognitive tests, although cost effective, have drawbacks since they are only adequate for obtaining a qualitative assessment of the visual deficits. Such paper and scoring tests, when given as a sequence of tests, do not consider the results of the initial tests in subsequent tests. 
     Additionally, since cognitive and sensory impairments are not widely recognized as closely linked, sensory-cognitive testing is not conducted at the same medical visit. Thus, a need exists, therefore, for developing appropriate perceptual tests to quantify the impact of the neural diseases on the affected visual functions. 
     Further, although some consider behavioral analysis to not be quantifiable, many research studies indicate that functional impairment can indeed analyzed in a quantitative fashion. Thus, a further need exists for an improved system for quantitative assessment of functional impairment to treat subjects with cognitive, perceptual, neurological, visual, and/or attentional deficiencies. 
     Yet a further need exists to overcome the problem of identifying the early phases of the neural disease or disorder. 
     A further need exists to overcome the problem of monitoring neural disease progress. 
     Yet a further need exists for a system for quantitative assessment of functional impairment that has the ability to simplify clinical research on cognitive, perceptual, neurological, visual, and/or attentional deficiencies. 
     Still further improvement is needed in animal research evaluations wherein varying scene patterns are shown to animal subjects. 
     Yet a further need exists for laboratories of drug companies and pharmaceutical companies to research and develop treatments for neurological impairment testing of subjects. 
     Still further improvement is needed to identify meta-parameters that may cause functional impairment and methods to diagnose their exemplary diseases and disorders. 
     A further need exists to generate real-time scores and diagnosis based on quantitative assessment of functional impairment. 
     Still further improvement is needed in critical testing of memory, attention, emotional, and social cue analysis. 
     A need exists for a treatment of development processes that may cause functional impairment in subjects. 
     Yet a further need exists for maximizing stimulus response compatibility in assessment of functional impairment so as not to obscure aspects of sensory processing and motor control. 
     Still further improvement is needed in a functional impairment assessment tool that captures all aspects of sensory input, cognitive transformation, and motoric response. 
     Further, a need exists for the incorporation of artificial intelligence in assessment of functional impairment. 
     Finally, a need exists for dynamic testing in clinical research, wherein a system responds to the actions of a subject. 
     BRIEF SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
     The present invention relates to a method for quantitative assessment of functional impairment in a subject, where the method presents scenes to a subject, determines an equilibrated scene parameter of a subject, and generates information that may substantially contribute to a diagnosis. More concretely and with the example of diagnosed functional impairment: A recommended medical intervention, including but not limited to, drugs, medicinal supplements, behavioral programs, and surgical treatments. In one aspect, an apparatus for quantifying assessment of functional impairment in a subject comprising an input device, a display device, a control device, and a tangible computer readable medium. In another aspect, a system of tests for functional impairment tests continuously modulates specific perceptual domains on a stimulus and transitions across perceptual domains in manner to measure the response error relative to a predetermined threshold. In its simplest sense, an assessment profile of functional capacity by psychophysical responses is generated on a tangible computer readable medium. The present disclosure improves and simplifies complex experimental paradigms in the context of psychophysical and electrophysiological studies of spatial or temporal aspects of assessment of functional impairment. 
     In accordance with the disclosed subject matter, the quantification of the impact of neural diseases onto affected visual functions is provided, thereby substantially reducing problems associated with identifying the early phases of neural diseases and neural disorders, as well as with secondary and tertiary prevention. A need exists for developing appropriate perceptual tests to better understand perceptual deficiencies. The present disclosure teaches a plurality of tests comprising a series of scenes. More specifically, the present disclosure generates and presents complex dynamic scenes, collects responses from a subject, quantitatively refines results, calibrates a display device relative to the interpreted feedback, and determines a diagnosis and medication to a subject. 
     These and other advantages of the disclosed subject matter, as well as additional novel features, will be apparent from the description provided herein and from the attached figures. The intent of this summary is not to be a comprehensive description of the claimed subject matter, but rather to provide a short overview of some of the subject matter&#39;s functionality. 
    
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
       The present subject matter will now be described in detail with reference to the drawings, which are provided as illustrative examples of the subject matter so as to enable those skilled in the art to practice the subject matter. Notably, the figures and examples are not meant to limit the scope of the present subject matter to a single embodiment, but other embodiments are possible by way of interchange of some or all of the described or illustrated elements and, further, wherein: 
         FIG. 1  shows a conceptual framework of the interacting subsystems in the environment that is used to assess functional impairment in a subject; 
         FIG. 2  displays a workflow of running the method to assess functional impairment in a subject; 
         FIG. 3  depicts a test environment, including a mounted shroud-box enclosure that may shield the subject from visual distractors. 
         FIG. 4  shows the computing system used that may be used in the quantitative assessment of functional impairment. 
         FIG. 5  shows the paradigm of a hierarchical nature of parametric individualization; 
         FIG. 6  portrays a representation of left posterior-lateral view of the human brain; 
         FIG. 7  display an exemplary operator display; 
         FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the principal components of the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment; 
         FIG. 9  shows a rotary manipulandum device that may support the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment; 
         FIG. 10  presents a linear manipulandum device that may support the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment; 
         FIG. 11  shows a xy Catersian manipulandum that may support the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment; 
         FIG. 12  portrays a block diagram of a stimulus generator that combines hardware and software to produce a scene parameter; 
         FIG. 13  shows a block diagram of the subject manipulandums that may support the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment; 
         FIG. 14  portrays an exemplary operator output interface; 
         FIG. 15  depicts a power user preset controls for visual movement module, which may serve as a graphical user interface with parameter adjustment sliders and buttons in the operator display; 
         FIG. 16  presents a graphical user interface for a subject demographics entry display; 
         FIG. 17  shows an exemplary subject medical history entry display; 
         FIG. 18  illustrates an exemplary standard operations test scoring display; 
         FIG. 19  shows an exemplary standard operations dynamic performance display; 
         FIG. 20  illustrates an exemplary operator comments entry display; 
         FIG. 21  presents the system initiation sequence and the test initiation sequence of the testing flow process for the conceptual framework for quantitative assessment; 
         FIG. 22  illustrates a sequence of test control steps and a sequence of test presentation steps; 
         FIG. 23  displays the process flow of test sequencing and test closing; 
         FIG. 24  portrays the sequences of steps for data archiving, operator interface, and accounts management; 
         FIG. 25  shows starting phase of the dynamic contrast test; 
         FIG. 26  illustrates the intermediate phase of the dynamic contrast test; 
         FIG. 27  displays the termination phase of the dynamic contrast test; 
         FIG. 28  shows starting phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 29  illustrates the intermediate phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 30  displays the termination phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 31  portrays the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test; 
         FIG. 32  shows the intermediate phase of the visual form discrimination test; 
         FIG. 33  illustrates the termination phase of the visual form discrimination test; 
         FIG. 34  depicts the initiation of the visual motion discrimination test; 
         FIG. 35  shows the intermediate phase of the visual motion discrimination test; 
         FIG. 36  illustrates the termination phase of the visual motion discrimination test; 
         FIG. 37  depicts the superposition of form and motion tests; 
         FIG. 38  illustrates the intermediate phase of the spatial attention effects test; 
         FIG. 39  represents the left-up form target and right-up motion target of the visual motion and visual form attention test; 
         FIG. 40  displays the left-up form, low-distinct target and right-up motion, high-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test; 
         FIG. 41  shows the left-up form, high-distinct target and right-up motion, low-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test; 
         FIG. 42  portrays the left-up form, high-distinct target and right-up motion, high-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test; 
         FIG. 43  displays the starting phase of the word recognition module; 
         FIG. 44  shows normal letters orientation; 
         FIG. 45  shows mirror rotated letters orientation; 
         FIG. 46  shows inverted letters orientation; 
         FIG. 47  shows the intermediate phase of the word recognition module; 
         FIG. 48  shows the termination phase of the word recognition module; 
         FIG. 49  illustrates the starting phase of the verbal memory module; 
         FIG. 50  displays the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module; 
         FIG. 51  illustrates the left-up target orientation with high contrast; 
         FIG. 52  shows the right-up target orientation with moderate contrast; 
         FIG. 53  displays the right-down target orientation with low contrast; 
         FIG. 54  shows a low difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 55  shows a moderate difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 56  shows a high difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 57  shows a low difficulty facial emotion nulling test; 
         FIG. 58  shows a moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test; 
         FIG. 59  shows a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test; 
         FIG. 60  illustrates the low difficulty social cues sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 61  illustrates the moderate difficulty social cues sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 62  illustrates the high difficulty social cues sensitivity test; 
         FIG. 63  shows an exemplary position trace; 
         FIG. 64  illustrates an exemplary speed trace; 
         FIG. 65  depicts an exemplary acceleration trace; 
         FIG. 66  displays an exemplary 3D S/N Gradient; 
         FIG. 67  portrays an exemplary S/N profile with respect to vertical and horizontal positions; 
         FIG. 68  shows an exemplary position error function profile; 
         FIG. 69  shows an exemplary sampled position error function profile; 
         FIG. 70  displays an exemplary velocity error function profile; 
         FIG. 71  portrays the instantaneous position error; 
         FIG. 72  shows a graphical representation of the error magnitude throughout test; 
         FIG. 73  depicts the stimulus obscuration over time; 
         FIG. 74  displays the subject position error relative to target position; 
         FIG. 75  illustrates depicts the subject velocity error relative to target velocity; and 
         FIG. 76  shows a results summary via a graphical user interface. 
     
    
    
     DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE ILLUSTRATED EMBODIMENTS 
     The present disclosure is related to the subject matter disclosed in the following co-pending applications filed on Sep. 16, 2009 and each naming Charles Joseph Duffy as the inventor: Ser. No. 12/560,583 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FUNCTIONAL IMPAIRMENT, Ser. No. 12/560,605 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL MOTOR RESPONSE, Ser. No. 12/560,642 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL CONTRAST SENSITIVITY, Ser. No. 12/560,683 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL FORM DISCRIMINATION, Ser. No. 12/560,746 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF VISUAL MOTION DISCRIMINATION, Ser. No. 12/560,916 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SPATIAL DISTRACTOR TASKS, Ser. No. 12/561,010 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF LETTER IDENTIFICATION LATENCY, Ser. No. 12/561,048 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF VERBAL MEMORY, Ser. No. 12/561,110 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FACIAL EMOTION SENSITIVITY, Ser. No. 12/561,169 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF FACIAL EMOTION NULLING, Ser. No. 12/561,188 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SOCIAL CUES SENSITIVITY, and Ser. No. 12/561,223 and entitled METHOD AND SYSTEM FOR QUANTITATIVE ASSESSMENT OF SPATIAL SEQUENCE MEMORY. 
     In describing embodiments of the present invention illustrated in the drawings, specific terminology is employed for the sake of clarity. In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting. Rather, the subject matter encompasses other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicant does not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present subject matter encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
     A more full understanding regarding the field of this disclosed subject matter appears in the following patents, all of which have common assignment and inventorship by Charles Joseph Duffy and all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes into this detailed description: U.S. Application No. U.S. Ser. No. 10/703,101, entitled “Method for Assessing Navigational Capacity”, Duffy et al.; U.S. Pat. No. 6,364,845B1, entitled “Methods for Diagnosing Visuospatial Disorientation Or Assessing Visuospatial Orientation Capacity”, Duffy et al. 
     Further information regarding the field of this disclosed subject matter appears in the following research publications, all of which have common authorship by Charles Joseph Duffy and all of which are incorporated by reference in their entirety for all purposes into this detailed description: Duffy, Charles J. et al., “Attentional Dynamics and Visual Perception: Mechanisms of Spatial Disorientation In Alzheimer&#39;s Disease”,  Brain,  126: 1173-1181 (2003); Duffy, Charles J. et al., “Visual Mechanisms of Spatial Disorientation in Alzheimer&#39;s Disease”,  Cerebral Cortex,  11: 1083-1192 (2001). 
     In the present disclosure, the phrase “optic flow” may be defined as the patterned visual motion seen by a moving observer that provides clues about heading direction and the three dimensional structure of the visual environment (Duffy et al., “Visual Mechanisms of Spatial Disorientation in Alzheimer&#39;s Disease”). Examples of impaired optic flow perception may include, but are not limited to, elementary visual motion processing deficits and elevated perceptual thresholds. The benefits of the present disclosure can be derived from essentially any analysis of the impaired global pattern recognition of optic flow, impaired visual processing of optic flow, and perceptual mechanisms of visuospatial disorientations, such as the ones previously defined. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “subject” refers to any animal that may be able to responds to stimuli. The word “subject” may encompasses a human subject, such as a patient. Although the word “subject” is written with the human subject in mind, the word “subject” may be a domestic pet, a work animal, and a robot. More particularly, the word “subject” may include, but is not limited to, a cat, a dog, a rodent, and a monkey. Further, the test referred to in the present disclosure may be implemented in the same manner for animal subject as for human subjects. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “functional” may include, but is not limited to, cognitive, perceptual, neurological, visual, and/or attentional aspects. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “qualitative”, as referring to qualitative assessment or qualitative monitoring, may refer to a predetermined threshold. A qualitative evaluation may occur when an evaluator, such as the physician or researcher, determines whether the subject may correctly respond to a series of stimuli that probe the underlying sensory, cognitive, and neural mechanisms that may be activated by those stimuli in the setting of a particular response modality. Thus a qualitative score may be established based on a predetermined threshold for passing or failing of a health condition. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “saliency” and the word “salient” both refer to the means by which behavior is modified regardless of whether the subject is consciously aware. Further, “saliency” refers to the ability to detect something regardless of whether the individual is conscious. Further, “saliency” may be defined in absolute terms but scored relative to a normal group, wherein the normal group can be further defined by single or multiple human characteristics, including, but not limited to, age, gender, medical history, surgical or trauma history, and genetics. Further, the “saliency” of any of the sensory stimuli may be modulated in at least one of the following ways: 1) The “saliency” may be modulated by filtering the spatial frequency composition of the stimuli, thereby making the stimuli harder to see or hear. More particularly, “saliency” may be modulated by filtering that may be associated with visually blurring the stimuli. Further, “saliency” may be modulated by filtering that may be associated with auditorily filtering sound by limiting its frequency bands. 2) The “saliency” may be modulated by filtering the temporal frequency composition of the stimuli to make the stimuli harder to see or hear. More particularly, “saliency” may be modulated by a filtering process that may be associated with visually presenting gaps in the otherwise pseudo-continuous stream of video frames, which may typically be sixty hertz, to a lower value, which may be of forty, thirty, twenty hertz. Additionally, “saliency” may be modulated by a filtering process that may be associated with auditorily creating a high frequency intermittency in the stream of auditory signals. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “perceptual” may be associated with temporal constraints on visual attention, such as in by limiting the rate at which visual motion signals can be integrated into a coherent representation of self-movement form (Duffy, et al., “Attentional Dynamics and Visual Perception: Mechanisms of Spatial Disorientation In Alzheimer&#39;s Disease”). The disclosed subject matter may focus on visual discrimination testing and cognitive capacities associated with visual motion and visual pattern stimuli via control of stimulus selection. However, it is understood that visual discrimination and psychological thresholds may be achieved by other neuropsychological tests, so long as the individual elements assess perceptual impairments or visuospatial disorientation. 
     In the present disclosure, the phrase “dual task interference” may be associated with distinct tasks that may be combined. Further, “dual task interference” may refer to two functions of the brain interfering with each other. The phrase “dual task interference” may further be defined as creating a critical condition of performing more than one sensory-cognitive-motor task at the same time. A “dual task interference task” may require a subject to be both aware of the movement of a stimulus and also the movement being conducted by the subject. Future equivalents of the present subject matter may be combined in this manner. 
     In the present disclosure, the phrase “pink noise spatial frequency” may be associated with a signal or process with a frequency spectrum such that the power spectral density is inversely proportional to the frequency. With regards to “pink noise spatial frequency”, each octave carries an equal amount of noise power. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “distractor” may be associated with, but is not limited to: a wedge of unique stimulus elements flashing on for a predetermined time period at a predetermined position, an area of unique elements flashing on for a predetermined time period at a predetermined position, and the transient displacement of a cursor to a predetermined position. The effects of distractors may include, but is not limited to, effects of motion, form, and word stimuli. Further a “distractor” may take a subject from a local processing mode, wherein the subject is processing a particular pattern, to a global processing mode; during this process of transitioning from a local processing mode to a global processing mode, the subject may begun to become distracted. Further, with respect to global motion distractors, if subject switches directly to the global processing mode, then the subject&#39;s performance will indicate improvement in the quantitative assessment of functional impairment. Further, with respect to local motion distractors, if subject switches directly to the global processing mode, then the subject&#39;s performance will indicate deterioration in the quantitative assessment of functional impairment, indicated by difficulties in functional ability. More particularly, a spatial response curve may indicate the level of difficulty for the subject to switch from a local processing mode to a global processing mode in the presence of a “distractor”. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “cognition” may refer to the relationship between a task and stimulus. Further, the word “cognition” may be associated with the strategic control of how a subject deploys processing resources. Further responses and tasks associated with cognition can be performed in more than one way. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “attention” may refer to the ability of a subject to perform any of the functional impairment assessment tests of the present disclosure in the presence of distractor stimuli. Further, “attention” may refer to attaining a performance measure without distractors and continuing the functional impairment test while implementing the distractors to further evaluate the subject performance. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “luminance” may refer to the brightness of a stimulus; the total light emitted. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “contrast” may refer to the difference between the most and the least luminant elements in a visual display. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “meta-parameter” may refer to stimulus attributes that may extend across a variety of specific stimulus arrays and response modalities. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “aspect ratio” may refer to the relative magnitude of orthogonal dimension of a stimulus element. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “coherence” may refer to the uniformity of a stimulus with respect to some parameter that may be applied across the extent of the stimulus. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “eccentricity” may refer to the distance from the center of a stimulus or the center of a subject&#39;s direction of gaze. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “facial expression” may refer to the configuration of facial features including the movement and tone of facial muscles. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “happiness” may refer to the affective state of positive experience leading to a real or perceived increase in the subject&#39;s propensity to be attracted to that state. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “sadness” may refer to the affective state of negative experience leading to a real or perceived decrease in the subject&#39;s propensity to be attracted to that state. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “aggressiveness” may refer to a greater tendency toward, or probability of, an individual&#39;s reacting in a violent, intrusive, or threatening manner. Further, “aggressiveness” may be associated with, but is not limited to, any of the following: arms being raised, an erect posture, and an open-mouthed grimace. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “submissiveness” may refer to a lesser tendency toward, or probability of, an individual&#39;s reacting in a violent, intrusive, or threatening manner. Further, “submissiveness” may be associated with, but is not limited to, any of the following: arms being folded, rounded shoulders, and down-cast eyes. 
     In the present disclosure, the word “body image” may refer to an individual&#39;s internal representation of their own body or the appearance of their own body to others. 
     The present disclosure describes a method, system, and tangible computer readable medium for quantitative assessment of functional impairment in a subject. Complex experimental paradigms in the context of psychophysical and electrophysiological studies of spatial or temporal aspects of assessment of functional impairment are greatly improved and simplified. 
     Further, the disclosed subject matters also focuses on the quantification of the impact of neural diseases onto affected visual functions, but it is understood to be that the concepts presented also allow significant improvements with the identification of the early phases of neural diseases and neural disorders, as well as with secondary and tertiary prevention. Moreover the disclosed subject matter provides an indication for the potential diagnosis of neural diseases and neural disorders. 
     Exemplary embodiments of the present invention are directed towards methods for organizing and standardizing data from scene testing that serves as a diagnostic metric for patients with functional impairment symptoms, particularly with associated with cognitive, perceptual, neurological, visual, and/or attentional deficiencies, such as those associated with Alzheimer&#39;s Disease, Parkinson&#39;s Disease, dementia, attention deficit, autism, and schizophrenia. More particularly on dementia, the exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure provide an indication of vascular dementia and frontotemporal dementia. 
     As will be understood by those of skill in the art, the present invention may be practiced in other specific forms without departing from the essential characteristics thereof. For example, quantitative assessment of functional impairment in a subject can have a plurality of psychophysical and electrophysiological tests. Or that the psychophysical and electrophysiological tests may include only a subset of the test described above, or all of the tests. Furthermore, the order in which the tests are administered may be varied to suit particular assessment scenarios. Accordingly, the foregoing is intended to be illustrative, but not limiting of the scope of the invention, which is set forth in the following claims. 
     The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is not meant to be limiting. The above description of the disclosed embodiments is meant to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the claimed subject matter. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the innovative faculty. 
     In the present specification, an embodiment showing a singular component should not be considered limiting. Rather, the subject matter encompasses other embodiments including a plurality of the same component, and vice-versa, unless explicitly stated otherwise herein. Moreover, applicants do not intend for any term in the specification or claims to be ascribed an uncommon or special meaning unless explicitly set forth as such. Further, the present subject matter encompasses present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration: 
       FIG. 1  shows a conceptual framework of the interacting subsystems  110  in the environment that is used to assess functional impairment in a subject. During the functional assessment process, the step of observer manual response manual  112  is followed by the step of system score response  114 , which is immediately followed by the step of system alerts display target location  116 . Upon completing step  116 , the step of system alters display difficulty  118  occurs, which is immediately followed by the decision of composite system output  120 . Thereafter, a decision is made to either proceed with the step of record and store stimulus and response parameters  122  or the step of system creates new sensory stimulus array  124 . If the decision is to proceed with the step of system creates new sensory stimulus array  124 , then the step of observer manual response manual  112  occurs, thereby repeating the ensuing steps involved in the conceptual framework of the interacting subsystems  110 . 
       FIG. 2  displays a workflow of running the method to assess functional impairment in a subject. The workflow of functional impairment  126  begins with the step of register subject&#39;s manipulandum response  128 . Immediately thereafter is the step of calculate position error  130 , which is followed by the step of calculate velocity error  132 . After step  132 , the step of determine if errors are increasing or decreasing  134  occurs, which is followed by the step of determine target position and saliency changes  136 . Immediately thereafter, the step of change to new stimulus parameter  138  occurs; thereafter, is the step of step of register subject&#39;s manipulandum response  128 , which results in repeating the ensuing steps of the workflow of functional impairment  126 . 
       FIG. 3  depicts a test environment  188  that may be associated with quantitative assessment of functional impairment. The test environment  188  may include, but is not limited to those associated with research and development laboratories, such as those present at medical centers, universities, drug companies, and pharmaceutical companies. Further, quantitative assessment of functional impairment may be conducted in clinics as well as animal research facilities. The present subject matter may be implemented in future known equivalents. 
     Further, quantitative assessment of functional impairment may be conducted remotely from any physical location via the Internet or other network. In addition, the present disclosure may be utilized for performing therapy, screening tests or more formal evaluations over the Internet. 
     The present disclosure may provide a test environment  188 , which may include a versatile psychophysical testing environment that simplifies complex experimental paradigms. The present disclosure may assist clinicians and/or researchers with replicating fundamental studies and better investigating visual functions that are impaired by aging and neural dysfunctions, such as shape and motion processing. 
     Further, the exemplary test environment  188 , which is depicted in  FIG. 3 , may include a mounted shroud-box enclosure that may shield the subject  192  from visual distractors. In systems designed for quantitative assessment of functional impairment, a variety of component and devices comprise the necessary equipment. The test environment  188  in the present disclosure may include, but is not limited to, a subject  192 , operator  190 , subject display  198 , stimulus area  199 , operator display  194 , a subject manipulanduam  402 , a shroud  196 , a subject earphones and a subject microphone, an operator earphones and an operator microphone, and a computing system  200 . Further, the subject headset  426 , which may include a subject earphones and a subject microphone, is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 8 . Further, the operator headset  424 , which may include an operator earphones and an operator microphone, is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 8 . More particularly, the computing system  200  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 4 . 
     The stimulus area may be presented on the subject display  198  and/or the subject earphones, wherein the subject earphones may be a component of subject headset  426 . Further, the cursor  1050  may be located on the subject display  198 . The cursor  1050  may extend from the center of the stimulus area  199  to the edge of a stimulus area  199 , such as a circular border  1302 , which is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 25 . 
     Further, the cursor  1050  may be the same cursor that is implemented in multiple tests of the present disclosure, with the exception of superimposed tests. More particularly, functional impairment tests that include superimposed phenomena, may require the alignment of one target area with another target area, thereby requiring more than one cursor  1050 . 
     Further, the test environment  188  may include a mount device, which may be a pull-mount or a desk-mount. Further, the subject display  198  may include, but is not limited to, a display screen that is linked the computing system by a digital cable. The display screen may be used to display instructions, to display an image of the operator  190  during instructions or coaching, or to present the visual test stimuli. The display device  22  may include, or could have as attached, a video camera directed at the subject  192  to show an image of the subject  192  on operator display  194 . The subject display  198 , which is that of the subject  192 , may include a shroud  196  mounted onto a box, in the form of a shroud-mounted box, in order to shield the subject  192  from the visual distractors, or may also include earphones in order to present stimuli and shield the subject from audible distractors. 
     With reference to  FIG. 4 , an exemplary system within a computing environment for implementing the invention includes a general purpose computing device in the form of a computing system  200 , commercially available from Intel, IBM, AMD, Motorola, Cyrix and others. Components of the computing system  202  may include, but are not limited to, a processing unit  204 , a system memory  206 , and a system bus  236  that couples various system components including the system memory to the processing unit  204 . The system bus  236  may be any of several types of bus structures including a memory bus or memory controller, a peripheral bus, and a local bus using any of a variety of bus architectures. 
     Computing system  200  typically includes a variety of computer readable media. Computer readable media can be any available media that can be accessed by the computing system  200  and includes both volatile and nonvolatile media, and removable and non-removable media. By way of example, and not limitation, computer readable media may comprise computer storage media and communication media. Computer storage media includes volatile and nonvolatile, removable and non-removable media implemented in any method or technology for storage of information such as computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules or other data. 
     Computer memory includes, but is not limited to, RAM, ROM, EEPROM, flash memory or other memory technology, CD-ROM, digital versatile disks (DVD) or other optical disk storage, magnetic cassettes, magnetic tape, magnetic disk storage or other magnetic storage devices, or any other medium which can be used to store the desired information and which can be accessed by the computing system  200 . 
     The system memory  206  includes computer storage media in the form of volatile and/or nonvolatile memory such as read only memory (ROM)  210  and random access memory (RAM)  212 . A basic input/output system  214  (BIOS), containing the basic routines that help to transfer information between elements within computing system  200 , such as during start-up, is typically stored in ROM  210 . RAM  212  typically contains data and/or program modules that are immediately accessible to and/or presently being operated on by processing unit  204 . By way of example, and not limitation, an operating system  216 , application programs  220 , other program modules  220  and program data  222  are shown. 
     Computing system  200  may also include other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media. By way of example only, a hard disk drive  224  that reads from or writes to non-removable, nonvolatile magnetic media, a magnetic disk drive  226  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile magnetic disk  228 , and an optical disk drive  230  that reads from or writes to a removable, nonvolatile optical disk  232  such as a CD ROM or other optical media could be employed to store the invention of the present embodiment. Other removable/non-removable, volatile/nonvolatile computer storage media that can be used in the exemplary operating environment include, but are not limited to, magnetic tape cassettes, flash memory cards, digital versatile disks, digital video tape, solid state RAM, solid state ROM, and the like. The hard disk drive  224  is typically connected to the system bus  236  through a non-removable memory interface such as interface  234 , and magnetic disk drive  226  and optical disk drive  230  are typically connected to the system bus  236  by a removable memory interface, such as interface  238 . 
     The drives and their associated computer storage media, discussed above, provide storage of computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules and other data for the computing system  200 . For example, hard disk drive  224  is illustrated as storing operating system  268 , application programs  270 , other program modules  272  and program data  274 . Note that these components can either be the same as or different from operating system  216 , application programs  220 , other program modules  220 , and program data  222 . Operating system  268 , application programs  270 , other program modules  272 , and program data  274  are given different numbers hereto illustrates that, at a minimum, they are different copies. 
     A user may enter commands and information into the computing system  200  through input devices such as a tablet, or electronic digitizer,  240 , a microphone  242 , a keyboard  244 , and pointing device  246 , commonly referred to as a mouse, trackball, or touch pad. These and other input devices are often connected to the processing unit  204  through a user input interface  248  that is coupled to the system bus  208 , but may be connected by other interface and bus structures, such as a parallel port, game port or a universal serial bus (USB). 
     A monitor  250  or other type of display device is also connected to the system bus  208  via an interface, such as a video interface  252 . The monitor  250  may also be integrated with a touch-screen panel or the like. Note that the monitor  250  and/or touch screen panel can be physically coupled to a housing in which the computing system  200  is incorporated, such as in a tablet-type personal computer. In addition, computers such as the computing system  200  may also include other peripheral output devices such as speakers  254  and printer  256 , which may be connected through an output peripheral interface  258  or the like. 
     Computing system  200  may operate in a networked environment using logical connections to one or more remote computers, such as a remote computing system  260 . The remote computing system  260  may be a personal computer, a server, a router, a network PC, a peer device or other common network node, and typically includes many or all of the elements described above relative to the computing system  200 , although only a memory storage device  262  has been illustrated. The logical connections depicted include a local area network (LAN)  264  connecting through network interface  276  and a wide area network (WAN)  266  connecting via modem  278 , but may also include other networks. Such networking environments are commonplace in offices, enterprise-wide computer networks, intranets and the Internet. 
     For example, in the present embodiment, the computer system  200  may comprise the source machine from which data is being generated/transmitted, and the remote computing system  260  may comprise the destination machine. Note however that source and destination machines need not be connected by a network or any other means, but instead, data may be transferred via any media capable of being written by the source platform and read by the destination platform or platforms. 
     The central processor operating pursuant to operating system software such as IBM OS/2®, Linux®, UNIX®, Microsoft Windows®, Apple Mac OSX® and other commercially available operating systems provides functionality for the services provided by the present invention. The operating system or systems may reside at a central location or distributed locations (i.e., mirrored or standalone). 
     Software programs or modules instruct the operating systems to perform tasks such as, but not limited to, facilitating client requests, system maintenance, security, data storage, data backup, data mining, document/report generation and algorithms. The provided functionality may be embodied directly in hardware, in a software module executed by a processor or in any combination of the two. 
     Furthermore, software operations may be executed, in part or wholly, by one or more servers or a client&#39;s system, via hardware, software module or any combination of the two. A software module (program or executable) may reside in RAM memory, flash memory, ROM memory, EPROM memory, EEPROM memory, registers, hard disk, a removable disk, a CD-ROM, DVD, optical disk or any other form of storage medium known in the art. An exemplary storage medium is coupled to the processor such that the processor can read information from, and write information to, the storage medium. In the alternative, the storage medium may be integral to the processor. The processor and the storage medium may also reside in an application specific integrated circuit (ASIC). The bus may be an optical or conventional bus operating pursuant to various protocols that are well known in the art. 
       FIG. 5  shows the paradigm of a hierarchical nature of parametric individualization. The word “hierarchical” refers to some tests that may derive measures that may be used as pre-set. Further, the word, “hierarchical” is associated with the occurrence of start values in subsequent tests, such that there may be an ordered sequence of tests. In the hierarchy for parametric individualization  300 , the resulting date from a movement test  302  may be applied to a contrast test  304 , an auditory test  306 , and/or a vibratory test  308 . The results of the one particular test or a combination of tests that may include, but are not limited to, a contrast test  304 , an auditory test  306 , and/or a vibratory test  308 , may be applied to the test batteries  310 , which are further described in the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 6  portrays a representation of left posterior-lateral view  320  of the human brain  322 . The human visual system is a system of parallel pathways. In the eyes, there are two sensory system, cone cells for daylight vision and rod cells for twilight vision. In the optic nerves and visual pathways, there are several different types of nerve fibers, of which the magnocellular pathway  324  and the parvocellular pathway  328  are the most important. The magnocellular pathway  324  is considered by those skilled in the art to be the “where?” pathway; the parvocellular pathway  328  is considered by those skilled in the art to be the “what?” pathway. Further, the magnocellular pathway  324  carries all transient, motion related visual information and low contrast black and white information. The parvocellular pathway  328  carries all color information and is effective in carrying high contrast black and white information. Further, the human brain  322  includes a striate and peri-striate visual areas  326 , which are well known in the art. 
       FIG. 7  display an exemplary operator display  194 , which an operator  190  may utilize to evaluate functional impairment in the human brain  322  of a subject  192 . The operator display  194  may include, but is not limited to, a real-time subject video display  332 , a stimulus display  334 , a current test performance display  336 , and a subject error display  338 . Further, the operator display  194  may display the current status  362 , which may include, but is not limited to, the current status of the current subject, the current status of the current test, and the current status of the current scores. Further, the test performance display  336  may show a graph of stimulus difficulty  350  versus the time of time intervals  348 . 
     The operator  190  may chose the appropriate test from test batteries  310  via the option of select and store test batteries  340 . The operator display  194  enables the operator  190  to utilize the features of start  342 , pause  344 , and stop  346  with respect to any functional assessment test. Further, an operator  190  may chose a test from among the test batteries  310 . For instance, the operator  190  may chose a functional assessment test that may be symbolized as test battery A  352 , test battery B  354 , test battery C  356 , test battery D  358 , or test battery X  360 , as in shown on the exemplary operator display  194  of  FIG. 7 . 
     Further, the operator display  194  may be used to start and stop testing via a series of windows that may be shown by the use of the computing system  200 . The series of windows may include the following: 
     i) A window for data entry regarding the subject  192 , operator  190 , and test site. 
     ii) A window for the operator  190  being able to view the subject&#39;s stimulus for monitoring. 
     iii) A window for the display of the current subject  192  and ongoing test. 
     iv) A window for the real-time display of graphical subject error and numerical subject error. 
     v) A window for the display of the subject&#39;s video image to the operator  190  for the monitoring of the subject&#39;s position and gaze. 
     vi) A window for the display of the subject&#39;s response saliency function. 
     vii) A window for the display of the subject&#39;s current basic scores. 
     viii) A window for the operator  190  to enter comments. 
     ix) A window for the operator  190  to enter identifying, medical history, treatment, etc. 
     The operator display  194  may be one component, of many components, that may be utilized for quantitative assessment of functional impairment.  FIG. 8  illustrates an embodiment of the principal components of the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment. The principal components may include, but are not limited to, basic components  400 , a subject manipulandum  402 , an operator interface  404 , and closed-circuit communication  406 . The basic components  400  may be utilized in the test environment  188 , as is shown in  FIG. 3 . 
     The operator interface  404 , may include, but is not limited to devices specifically for use by the operator  190 , such as a keyboard  244 , herein called operator keyboard  408 , and a pointing device  246 , which may be, but is not limited to, an operator touchpad  410  or a mouse, herein called an operator mouse  412 . A operator  190  may enter commands and information into the computing system  200  through input devices such as an operator touchpad  410  or an operator mouse  412 . The operator  190  may utilize the operator interface  404  for entering identifying information, medical history, treatment data, etc. to facilitate in quantitative assessment of functional impairment. 
     Further, the closed-circuit communication  406  may include, but is not limited to, an operator headset  424 , which may be utilized by the operator  190 , and a subject headset  426 , which may be utilized by the subject  192 . The present disclosure may include a closed-circuit auditory link  406  between the subject  192  and the operator  190  that consists of three components: 
     i) The subject  192  may utilize a subject headset  426  to shield from audible distractors, thereby allowing for the controlled presentation of auditory stimuli as task cues or distractors, or cue elements of the task, which include, but are not limited to, specific tones and words, or for instructions or for coaching by the operator  190 . The subject headset  426  may include a co-mounted subject microphone  428 , which may always be on to the operator  190 , thereby allowing all comments by the subject  192  and eliciting appropriate responses. 
     ii) The operator  190  may wear an operator headset  424  that may allow the operator  190  to hear any sounds from the subject  192  but also may allow the operator  190  to hear sounds from the surrounding environment. The operator headset  424  may include a co-mounted operator microphone  425 , which may allow the operator  190  to speak with the subject  192 . Further, the operator interface  404  may allow for contact with the subject  192  via the operator  190  being able to enable or disable a virtual switch in the operator display  194 . 
     iii) The present disclosure includes software, hardware, and interface connections for controlling the state of the subject-operator closed-circuit communication  406 . 
     Further principal components of the presently disclosed method for assessment of functional impairment may include a subject manipulandum  402 , which may be a physical interfacing device that transforms input from a user. The properties of the subject manipulandum  402  may be akin to the properties of a pointing device  246  or other input devices, which may include, but is not limited to a wheel, a joystick, or a computer mouse device. Further, the subject manipulandum  402  may be a touch screen display panel  422  that can accommodate finger or stylus input, such as by text. 
     Similar to the operator interface  404 , the subject manipulandum  402  may include, but is not limited to devices, such as a keyboard  244 , herein called subject keyboard  409 , and a pointing device  246 , which may be, but is not limited to, a subject touchpad  411  or a mouse, herein called an subject mouse  420 . A subject  192  may enter commands and information into the computing system  200  through input devices such as an operator touchpad  411  or an operator mouse  420 . 
     Further, the subject  192  may respond exclusively by moving the positional control of the subject manipulandum  402 , which is chosen to meet the design of the test. The subject manipulandum  402  may be manipulated by the hand of the subject  192 , and its purpose is to maximize stimulus response compatibility so that sensory processing motor control aspects are not obscured. The subject  192  may provide input and respond to sensory stimuli by movement of the subject manipulandum  402  via one of the following options: a rotary manipulandum  414 , a linear manipulandum  416 , or a xy Cartesian manipulandum  418 . Thus, the subject manipulandum  402  may move in rotation motion  440 , a linear motion  442 , x-axis motion in the Cartesian coordinate system  444 , or y-axis motion in the Cartesian coordinate system  446 . In addition, the movement of the subject manipulandum  402  may be represented as a cursor  1050  on the subject display  198 . The cursor may be, but is not limited to, a ball-and-stick cursor. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 9 ,  10 , and  11 , an exemplary a rotary manipulandum  414 , an exemplary linear manipulandum  416 , and an exemplary xy Cartesian manipulandum  418  are shown in greater detail. 
     Further, the subject manipulandum  402  may be designed to incorporate a means of monitoring whether the subject  192  is contacting a handle through a capacitive contact detector. Further, the subject manipulandum  402  may be designed to incorporate a motorized system that can alter the resistance offered by the subject manipulandum  402  to the subject  192  by moving it for use in testing the motoric control of the subject  192 . Further, the subject manipulandum  402  may be designed to incorporate a vibrating element that can create a variable amplitude, variable frequency vibration of a handle as a cue or a distracting stimulus. 
     Further, the present disclosure may accommodate the use of a plurality of subject manipulandum  402  to test the motoric control of the subject  192 . The present disclosure may accommodate two manipulandum  402 , one with each of the subject&#39;s hands. 
     Further, the response of the subject manipulandum  402  may be implemented as separate box mounted devices or virtual devices on a touch screen display panel  422  that can accommodate finger or stylus input, such as by text. 
     Further the present disclosure may include a principal component of a computing system  200 , which may include a computer readable medium or may include a computing process, that supports detailed operations by interfacing with other hardware components and by representative software described in the further in the present disclosure. 
     More particularly, the subject manipulandum  402  may be a rotary manipulandum  414  that moves in a rotational motion  440 , as is shown in  FIG. 9 . The rotary manipulandum  414  may consists of a box mounted wheel  439 , which may be mounted such that it can rotate around its center, which may be attached to a rotation circuit in the box  443 . The box mounted wheel  439  is moved by grasping an eccentric handle  441  that the subject  192  uses to rotate the angle of the rotary manipulandum  414 , which may be a displayed as a cursor  1050  on the subject display  198 . The motion of the rotary manipulandum  414  may be from zero to three-hundred sixty angular degrees, which may be translated with as representative motion, also from zero to three-hundred sixty angular degrees, in the form of a cursor  1050  on the subject display  198 . 
       FIG. 10  presents a linear manipulandum  416  that moves in a linear motion  442 . The linear manipulandum  416  may consist of a box-mounted slot  445  from which a handle  447  protrudes. The handle  447  is attached to circuit in the box  443  that transduces the movement of the handle  447  across the extent of the slot  445 . The handle  447  is grasped by the subject  192  and moved along the axis of the slot  445 , which may move the cursor  1050  on the subject display  198 . The movement of the cursor  1050  may be represented as a displayed linear cursor on the subject display  198 . The displayed linear form of the cursor  1050  may move in a variety of means, including, but not limited to, a side-to-side motion or an up- and down motion, across a corresponding axis of the stimulus area  199 . 
       FIG. 11  shows a xy Catersian manipulandum  418  that moves in the Cartesian coordinate system, which may be x-axis motion in the Cartesian coordinate system  444  or y-axis motion in the Cartesian coordinate system  446 . The xy Catersian manipulandum  418  may consist of a box mounted handle  449  that is attached to a xy Cartesian coordinate transducer circuit that registers the position of the handle&#39;s angular deflection. The box mounted handle  449  is tilted by the subject  192  to displace a cursor  1050  across the xy surface of the subject display  198 ; the xy surface of the subject display  198  may be shown from the upper left to the lower right of the subject display  198 . 
       FIG. 12  portrays a block diagram of a stimulus generator  450 , which may further comprise the system software  452 , the application hardware configuration  454 , and the system conceptualization of neural processing  456 . Further, the block diagram of a stimulus generator  450  may combine hardware and software to produce a scene parameter. 
     The system software  452  may consider the test subject error monitor  460  towards both the steps of derive new target location  462  and derive new stimulus difficulty  464 . The results of the steps of derive new target location  462  and derive new stimulus difficulty  464  may influence the step of system test-module-specific stimulus generation  468 . 
     Further, the steps involved in the system software  452  may influence the steps involved in the application hardware configuration  454 . More particularly, the results of the step of system test-module-specific stimulus generation  468  may be applicable towards each of the steps that are associated with the computer&#39;s sound&#39;s engine (firmware)  474 , the computer&#39;s graphics engine (firmware)  472 , and the computer&#39;s signal generator (firmware)  470 . 
     The results of the step associated with the computer&#39;s sound&#39;s engine (firmware)  474  may be applicable towards the step associated with computer&#39;s sound interface (hardware)  476 . The results of the step associated with the computer&#39;s graphics engine (firmware)  472  may be applicable towards the step associated with computer&#39;s graphics interface (hardware)  480 . The results of the step associated with the computer&#39;s signal generator (firmware)  470  may be applicable towards the step associated with the computer&#39;s digital interface (hardware)  484 . 
     Further, the results of the step associated with the computer&#39;s sound interface (hardware)  476  may be applicable towards the step associated with the subject&#39;s auditory headset (hardware)  478 . The results of the step associated with the computer&#39;s graphics interface (hardware)  480  may be applicable towards the step associated with the subject&#39;s visual display (hardware)  482 . The results of the step associated with the computer&#39;s digital interface (hardware)  484  may be applicable towards the step associated with the subject&#39;s vibro-tactile manipulandum (hardware)  486 . 
     Further, the steps involved in the application hardware configuration  454  may influence the steps involved in the step of system test-module-specific stimulus generation  468 . More particularly, the steps associated with either of the subject&#39;s auditory headset (hardware)  478 , the subject&#39;s visual display (hardware)  482 , or the subject&#39;s vibro-tactile manipulandum (hardware)  486  may be associated with the step of system test-module-specific stimulus generation  468 . 
       FIG. 13  shows a block diagram of the subject manipulandums  550 , which represents the necessary components associated with the subject manipulandums  402 . The components a of the block diagram of the subject manipulandums  550  may include, but is not limited to, the manipulandum handle and transducer  552 , a USB interface  554 , signal conditioning  556 , and the USB connector to system computer  558 . Further, the manipulandum handle and transducer  552  may be associated with either of the rotary manipulandum  414 , linear manipulandum  416 , or xy Cartesian manipulandum  418 . 
     The output associated with the manipulandum handle and transducer  552  is coupled to the signal conditioning  556 , which may either be applicable towards the USB interface or directly with the USB connector to system computer  558 . The output associated with the USB interface is directly coupled to the USB connector to system computer  558 . 
       FIG. 14  portrays an exemplary operator output interface  570 , which may include, but is not limited to, an operator display  194  and an operator interface  404 . The operator display  194  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 7  and its accompanying description. The operator interface  404  is shown in greater detail in  FIG. 8  and its accompanying description. Further, the operator display  194  may include an exemplary real-time subject video display  332  for presenting tests of a series of scenes for use with the presently disclosed subject matter. 
       FIG. 15  depicts a sub-component of the operator display  194 , the power user preset controls for visual movement module  600 , which may serve as a graphical user interface with parameter adjustment sliders and buttons. The operator  190  may control the power user preset controls for visual movement module  600  in order to make changes to one, several, or all of the settings associated with the movement test  302 . The power user preset controls for visual movement module  600  may include, but is not limited to, slider bars, with accompanying value ranges for the stimulus area  602 , the stimulus speed  604 , the range of dot speeds  606 , the dot color  608 , the background color  610 , the mean dot luminance  612 , the dot size (min, max)  614 , the dot half-life (msec)  616 , and the dot overlap (max %)  618 . 
       FIG. 16  presents a window in the operator display  194 , which in addition to the option of select and score test batteries  340 , may also include an exemplary subject demographics entry display  650 . The operator  190  may enter subject demographics  652  for the subject  192  in the subject demographics entry display  650 , which may be a sub-component of the operator display  194 . The subject demographics may include, but are not limited to, the full name  660 , the stated age  662 , the date of birth  664 , the gender identity  666 , the racial identity  668 , and the ethnic identity  670 . 
       FIG. 17  shows a window in the operator display  194 , which in addition to the option of select and score test batteries  340 , may also include an exemplary subject medical history entry display  700 . The operator  190  may enter the medical history  710  and the functional capacities  712  for the subject  192  in the subject medical history entry display  700 , which may be a sub-component of the operator display  194 . Further the medical history  710  may include, but is not limited to, medicinal allergies  720 , other allergies (seasonal/food)  722 , current medications  724 , current supplements  726 , current diagnoses  728 , surgical procedures  730 , planned surgeries  732 , and history of trauma  734 . Further the functional capacities  712  may include, but is not limited to, physical limitations  736 , hearing impairments  738 , visual impairments  740 , movement difficulties  742 , highest educational level  744 , and preferred hand  746 . The medical history  710  and the functional capacities  712  may contribute towards the quantitative assessment of functional impairment, and thereby may contribute towards the treatment for the subject  192 . 
       FIG. 18  shows a standard operations test scoring display  750 , which may be a window in the graphical user interface for the display of the subject&#39;s current basic scores. The standard operations test scoring display  750  may be a display in addition to the option of select and score test batteries  340 , which may be a part of the operator display  194 . 
     The standard operations test scoring display  750  may further display a more detailed test scoring display  752 , which may include, but is not limited to, the test subject output  760 , the test module output  762 , the saliency scores output  764 , the mean over previous output  766 , the interval scores output  768 , and the percentage time at five seconds level output  770 . Further, the test scoring display  752  may show current data associated with a current, particular test that may be for quantitative assessment of functional impairment. 
     Further, the mean over previous output  766  may be associated with the saliency scores output  764 . Further, the percentage time at five seconds level output  770  may be associated with the interval scores output  768 . 
       FIG. 19  shows a window in the operator display  194 , which in addition to the option of select and score test batteries  340 , may also include an exemplary standard operations dynamic performance display  800 . The current test performance  802 , which may be represented graphically as the graph of current of current test performance  804 , which may be a graph of stimulus difficulty  350  versus ten seconds intervals  806 . 
     Further, the ten seconds intervals  806  is an exemplary representation of the time from the start of this test  808 . However, different time intervals may be represented on as the time from the start of this test  808  on the graph of current of current test performance  804 . 
     Further, the graph of current of current test performance  804  may represent increasing task difficulty  812  with a higher value of stimulus difficulty  350 . Further, the graph of current of current test performance  804  may represent decreasing task difficulty  810  with a lower value of stimulus difficulty  350 . 
     Further, the current test performance  802  may be a more detailed representation of the standard operations dynamic performance display  800 . Further, the current test performance  802  may be associated with the subject&#39;s response saliency function. 
       FIG. 20  shows a window in the operator display  194 , which in addition to the option of select and score test batteries  340 , may also include an exemplary operator comments entry display  850 . The operator  190  may enter comments on the operator comments entry  852 , which may be a sub-component of the operator comments entry display  850 . The operator comments entry  852  may include, but is not limited to, prompts for subject response to test experience  854 , operator assessment of subject performance  856 , subject comments  858 , and operator comments  860 . 
     Further, the subject response to test experience  854  may be scored on a scale of subject response to test performance  862 , which may be scored, but is not limited to being scored, from very unenjoyable  870  to moderately unenjoyabled  872  to moderate  874  to moderately unenjoyable  876  to very enjoyable  878 . The operator assessment of subject performance  856  may be scored on a scale of operator assessment of subject performance  864 , which may be scored, but is not limited to being scored, from very unenjoyable  870  to moderately unenjoyable  872  to moderate  874  to moderately unenjoyable  876  to very enjoyable  878 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 21  through  FIG. 78 , the present disclosure includes multiple levels of system configurability implemented with an extensive multi-dimensional parametric control system with a large number of parametric adjustment controls. These parameters allow for the flexible specialization of the present disclosure across many application domains as well as the flexible specialization of the present disclosure to specific medical diagnoses and corresponding issues related to the wide variety of directly foreseeable applications of this technology. 
     The present disclosure allows for specialization of parameters with regards to tests included for specific applications, which may included, but is not limited to the following: 
     i) The present disclosure allows for the selection of specific tests for specific applications, such as a test array emphasizes posterior cortical and sub-cortical function in applications regarding Alzheimer&#39;s Disease, and in contrast, a different test array in screening of frontal lobe and temporal lobe function in applications regarding the fronto-temporal dementias. 
     ii) The present disclosure may allow assessment of the underlying mechanisms for drug and toxin exposures. Specific applications for drug and toxin exposures may be selected by experience acquired from implementation of the present disclosure. 
     iii) The intrinsic configurability that is fundamental to the present disclosure also allows for implementing a broad-based, non-specialized screening array when such an array best serves specific applications. 
     iv) The present disclosure may include a power-user test array configuration mode in which a specific sub-set of tests from the present disclosure may be included or excluded as best suited to the specific interests of the customer or for specific applications. 
     v) As a result of the intrinsic configurability, the total duration of testing as described in the present disclosure may vary widely across applications. 
     Further, the present disclosure may provide for a complete, streamline workflow of experimental design, display calibration, data collection, and data analysis for the quantitative assessment of functional impairment. The experiment is the root event that specifies the parameters that may be implemented during the experiment. 
     Specialization of parameters for test configuration to be used in specific applications may include, but is not limited to, the following: 
     i) The present disclosure may allow for the selection of all physical parameters of all the tests described in the present disclosure. Such parametric configuration includes altering the speed of target motion, the rate of target saliency increase or decrease, spatial and temporal frequency composition of the stimuli and the nature of multi-modal stimuli, such as visual stimuli alone, auditory stimuli alone, hand-finger vibratory tactile stimuli alone, or any combination of those modalities as cues or distractors. 
     ii) The present disclosure&#39;s parametric adjustment setting may include all aspects of the visual display, including, but not limited to, luminance, contrast, spatial and temporal frequency composition, target movement, all aspects of the test subject&#39;s motor control medium, including but not limited to, adjusting response sensitivity, filtering subject response signal frequency, and all aspects of auditory input to the subject, including, but not limited to, visual and/or auditory presentation of instructions, visual and/or auditory presentation of test stimuli, such as words or tones, the presentation of auditory stimuli as distractors, and the amplitude and filtering of auditory stimuli. 
     iii) The present disclosure may include parametric adjustment due to qualitative assessment. Such parametric adjustment, such as the ability to select parameters that are derived from demographic specification of the individual, which may include, but is not limited to, age, gender, medical history, drug treatments, or from the results of specific tests in a testing array sequence, which may include, but is not limited to, using a contrast sensitivity profile to alter the contrast at which all other visual stimuli will be presented, or using the speed and other subject movement parameters to alter the target movement parameters for all other tests. These subject performance dependent meta-parameters may be used as directly derived from that subject&#39;s or subject group&#39;s performance or may be algorithmically programmed. 
     iv) The present disclosure may include a power-user test parametric configuration mode in which computerized parameter adjustment sliders and buttons may be presented to allow for the adjustment of parameters as best suited to the specific interests of the customer or for specific applications. 
     Further, specialization of the testing configuration for applications to testing specific subjects may allow for the selection of a language in which instructions and linguistic cues that may be presented for testing subjects native to other languages. 
     Further, specialization of the testing configuration for applications to testing specific subject may allow for the selection of relevant cues such as geometric shapes or tones or such as objects and recognizable sounds rather than language cues in applications for age-appropriate, developmental, or acquired impairments of language processing. 
     Further, specialization of testing configuration for applications to testing specific subject may allow for using an individual subject&#39;s scores from a previous testing session, at that site or another test site. Further, specialization of testing configuration for applications to testing specific subject may allow for using an individual subject&#39;s scores to select the test to be administered, which may potentially focus on abnormal or unreliable performance or on application specific selected performance Likewise, test configuration parameters may be inherited from previous testing sessions to match those tests or to extend testing in to a different parametric domain. 
     Further, specialization of the testing configuration for applications to testing specific subject may allow for operator entered alerts on areas of concern, which may be in response to subject complaints alerting the physician or operator regarding some function, such as memory. 
     The present disclosure may include the extensive processing of subject performance data integrated with information from sources that may include: i) subject demographics, such as from scores standardized to normal for age or education, ii) subject characteristics from an established diagnosis or know treatment that may alter or focus analysis, such as with motor response in Parkinsonism, or iii) previous test scores, such as to focus on measuring improvement, stability or decline. 
     The present disclosure may include on-line data analysis, which may include the presentation and archiving of summary scores at the termination of the administration of each test. The scores from these tests may include: the mean saliency, as percent of maximum score, in last fifteen, ten, and five seconds of a test, the saliency at which the greatest percentage of time was spent in a test, the saliency at which the subject first lost track of the target. In another embodiment, the present disclosure may generate real-time score during the administration of each test. 
     The present disclosure may include off-line data analysis, which may include the derivation of a variety of dependent measures, including, but not limited to: i) the subject&#39;s response curve fit parameters to an asymptotic function, the salience level of that asymptote, and the time it takes to achieve that asymptote, ii) the area under the curve of the subject&#39;s response function, terminated by either a preset time, such as one-hundred seconds of testing or thirty seconds after the asymptote is reached, or the time to three peak/troughs in the response function or the time until a pre-selected cut-off is achieved, such as a saliency greater than ninety-five percentage, iii) comparative evaluations such as the differences between the measures of a subject&#39;s performance on a selected test versus that from another selected test, iv) comparative measures such as the differences between the basic measures of a subject on a test and the measures from a selected group of comparison subjects, such as the percentile scaled performance scores standardized for age, gender, and education. 
     More particularly, system initiation and test initiation, as applied to the quantitative assessment of functional impairment as described in the present disclosure, may be shown by way of illustration.  FIG. 21  shows an embodiment of a testing flow process  1100  for the conceptual framework for quantitative assessment. At the start step of testing flow process  1100 , the system initiation sequence  1102  may begin with the boot and self-test step  1106  and may proceed to initiate operator interface at step  1108 . Upon receiving data entry input from the operator  190  via the operator interface  1120  during the initiate operator interface step  1108 , the system initiation sequence  1102  may be completed. 
     The ensuing test initiation sequence  1104  may commence subsequently with the session script step  1122 . Upon receiving operator confirmation  1124  the session demo  1126  begins with the session demo stimulus  1128 . At step  1130  of patient responses, score results  1132  are recorded. Thereafter, done query  1134  may ascertain whether the session demo stimulus  128  has finished. If done query  1134  is no, then the test initiation sequence  1104  reverts back to the session demo stimulus  1128 . If done query  1134  is yes, then the test initiation sequence  1104  proceeds with store results step  1136 . 
     Thereafter, testable query  1138  may discern whether the store results are testable. If testable query  1138  is no, then the test initiation sequence  1104  determines a resulting untestable script  1140 , and thereby proceeds step of to test closing step  1144 . If testable query  1138  is yes, then the test initiation sequence  1104  proceeds with the to test control  1142 , which is further depicted in  FIG. 22  with more detailed steps. 
     More particularly, test control and test presentation, as applied to the quantitative assessment of functional impairment as described in the present disclosure, may be shown by way of illustration.  FIG. 22  displays a sequence of test control steps  1152  and a sequence of test presentation steps  1154 . At the test control step  1142  indicated in  FIG. 21 , the test initiation sequence  1104  may progress into the sequence of test control steps  1152 . Initially after the from test initiation or presentation step  1156 , the sequence of test control steps  1152  proceeds to the query test selection  1160 . Query test selection  1160  may search to allocate an appropriate test to/from test sequencing  1158 . Upon achieving test selection  1160 , the sequence of test control steps  1152  may proceed to test closing step  1142  under the assumption of no remaining tests. Further, upon achieving test selection  1160 , the sequence of test control steps  1152  may proceed to the test script step  1164  under the assumption of remaining tests. 
     The operator enable step  1166  may promote the introduction of the test demo stimulus  1168 . The sequence of test control steps  1152  may proceed with receiving input via patient responses  1170 , for which the testing flow process  1100  records the score results  1132 . If the sequence of test control steps  1152  does not complete score results  1132 , then the sequence of test control steps  1152  continues with test demo stimulus  1168  in a control loop until the sequence of test control steps  1152  completes score results  1132 . 
     Upon achieving score results  1132 , the sequence of test control steps  1152  may proceed to the store results step  1136  and then to the testable query  1138 . If testable query  1138  is yes, then the sequence of test control steps  1152  may proceed to step of to test presentation  1180  and initiates the sequence of test presentation steps  1154 , starting with the step of from test control  1182 . Then, at from test control step  1182 , the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  may proceed with having a particular test x ready step  1184 , followed by the step of operator confirmation  1124 . 
     However, if testable query  1138  is no, then the sequence of test control steps  1152  may proceed to the step of to test control  1142 . Afterward, the sequence of test control steps  1152  may revert back to the test initiation or presentation step  1156 . 
     Upon receiving operator confirmation  1124 , the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  may present a particular test x present stimulus step  1188 , thereby promoting patient responses  1170 . Subsequently, the patient responses  1170  may be recorded in the score and store step  1192 , thereby prompting the test time-out query  1194 . If test time-out query  1194  is no, then the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  proceeds to the query of stable score  1196 . 
     However, if test time-out query  1194  is yes, then the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  may proceed to the step of to test control  1142 , thereby reverting to the test initiation or presentation step  1156 . If test time-out query  1194  is no, then the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  may present the stable score query  1196 . If stable score query  1196  is no, then the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  may revert back to the step of operator confirmation  1124 . However, if stable score query  1196  is yes, then the sequence of test presentation steps  1154  to the step of to test control  1142 , may revert back to the test initiation or presentation step  1156 . 
     More particularly, test sequencing and test closing, as applied to the quantitative assessment of functional impairment as described in the present disclosure, may be shown by way of illustration.  FIG. 23  illustrates the process flow of test sequencing  1202  in greater detail than as discerned at the step of from test control  1182  of  FIG. 22 . The subset of steps of from test control  1182  may begin with the from test control ‘select’ step  1206  of test sequencing  1202 . Thereafter, a new patient query  1208  inquires whether a new patient has elected to participate in the test sequencing  1202 . If no to new patient query  1208 , then a first test query  1210  may be administered. If yes to new patient query prompt  1208 , then the test sequencing  1202  proceeds to the step of access test battery  1216 . Upon initiating first test query  1210 , the test sequencing  1202  commences the step of load patient parameters  1212 . Thereafter, the step of reviewing patient&#39;s parameters  1214  commences. 
     Further, the patient parameters reviewed  1215 , which may be considered in the step of reviewing patient&#39;s parameters  1214 , may include, but is not limited to the following: confirm patient identity, special warnings, previous scores for report, test priorities (future), and conflict in new and old data. 
     Immediately following step of reviewing patient&#39;s parameters  1214 , the step of access test battery  1216  may commence. Thereafter, the progression of tests may be initiated in the step of next test in sequence  1218 , which may include a particular test type  1219 . Further, the particular test type  1219  may further include, but is not limited to, tests associated with any, some, or all of motor, form, motion, attention, word, and memory characteristics. 
     Further, the step of next test in sequence  1218  may start a sequence of the step of load test and its pre-sets  1220 , which is immediately followed by an analysis step of this test&#39;s parameters battery  1222 . More particularly, the step of this test&#39;s parameters battery  1222  may include, but is not limited to the details of type of parameter battery  1223 , which is listed in list form detail in  FIG. 23 . 
     The final step of test sequencing  1202  may be the step of to test control ‘selection’  1224 , which returns the testing flow process  1100  back to the sequence of test control steps  1152 , starting with the test initiation or presentation step  1156 . Upon completion of tests and saving test data at the store results step  1136 , the sequence of steps in test closing  1204  begins with the step of from test initiation or control  1226 . 
     Thereafter, the step of request operator comments  1228  seeks operator comments  1230 , which may be stored as store comments  1232  via a data archiving mechanism  1234 . Subsequently, the user is prompted by the query of print results  1236  and the query of printer available  1238 . If no to the query of printer available  1238 , then the step of flag print reminder  1240 . If yes to the query of printer available  1238 , then the step of printer que  1242 , immediately followed by the prompt of another patient  1244  to print another patient&#39;s test results. 
     Thereafter, a query of new patient requested  1246  may be initiated. If no to query of new patient requested  1246 , then the step of auto logout and to system initiation login  1248  appears to the user. If yes to query of new patient requested  1246 , then the step of to system initiation patient ID  1249  appears to the user. 
     More particularly, data archiving, operator interface, and accounts management, as applied to the quantitative assessment of functional impairment as described in the present disclosure, may be shown by way of illustration.  FIG. 24  shows sub-sequences of the testing flow process  1100 , which may include the sequences of steps for data archiving  1250 , operator interface  1252 , and accounts management  1254 . The process flow of data archiving  1250  may commence from the end of the sequence of steps in test closing  1204  as shown in  FIG. 23 . 
     Thereafter the steps for data archiving  1250  may commence with the step of access all previous results  1256 , which are formatted in the step of format raw data and reported data  1258 . Upon formatting the data from the test sequencing  1202 , the data may be stored in the step of store raw data and reported data  1260 . Thereafter, the process flow of data archiving  1250  may proceed with the step of flag type of billing  1262  and the subsequent step of encrypt and lock file  1264 . The process flow of data archiving  1150  may end with return to test closing  1266 . 
       FIG. 24  also shows sub-sequences of the testing flow process  1100  for the operator interface  1252 , which may begin with the step of from system initiation sequence  1282 . Thereafter, the operator interface  1252  may proceed with the step of create multi-function display  1268 , which is immediately followed by the step of start AV link to patient  1270 . Next the operator interface  1252  may proceed the step of start stimulus/response display and score  1272 , which initiates the subsequent step of start patient error display and store  1274  and the ensuing step of display the test battery and ready status  1276 . Thereafter, the user may be prompted the step of ready to go  1278 , which may be immediately followed by the step of to system initiation session initiation  1280 . 
     Moreover,  FIG. 24  also shows sub-sequences of the testing flow process  1100  for accounts management  1254 , which may begin with the step of from system initiation  1282 . Thereafter, the user may be queried with the step of accounts management system  1284 . If no to the query of accounts management system  1284 , then the follow-up step may be the query local admin  1294  to determine whether the user a local administrator. If yes to the query of asking whether the user is a local admin  1294 , then accounts management  1254  may proceed to the step of local tests and billing  1295 . However, if no to the query of asking whether the user is a local admin  1294 , then accounts management  1254  may proceed to the step of the asking whether the user is a local operator  1190  via the query of local operator  1296 . If yes to the query of local operator  1296 , then accounts management may proceed to the step of to system initiation accounts management  1298 ; otherwise, accounts management may proceed to the step of to system initiation login prompt  1299 . 
     Instead, if yes to the query of accounts management system  1284 , then the testing flow process  1100  for accounts management  1254  may proceed with the step of pre-confirm and permissions  1286 , which may be immediately followed by the step of confirming via the query confirmed  1288 . If no to the query confirmed  1288 , then the testing flow process  100  for accounts management  1254  may proceed to the step of poll system server now  1292 . Instead, if yes to the query step of inquiring confirmed  1288 , then the testing flow process  1100  for accounts management  1254  may proceed to the step of system access  1290 . Thereafter step of system access  1290 , accounts management  1254  undergoes user exit mode and ends the accounts management  1254  at the to system initiation login prompt  1199 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 25  through  FIG. 78 , the present disclosure includes a screening test battery with high stimulus-response computability to facilitate engaging test subjects while surveying a range of functional domains to detect and quantify a variety of functional impairments. 
     The fundamental stimulus response contingency common to all of these tests is the segmental presentation of a stimulus in the context of relevant distractors to evoke the subject&#39;s positioning of a cursor to indicate the local stimulus. 
     In one embodiment of the present disclosure, the tests are organized to captures all aspects of sensory input, cognitive transformation, and motoric response, herein called sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment, which may also be known as sensory-cognitive motor tasks. The present disclosure may couple sensory stimulation with the recording of motor responses to assess cerebral cortical function. The stimulus-response patterns are recorded in the context of the different tests, which thereby allow for: 1) the quantification of fundamental sensory and motor functions, 2) the quantification of multiple levels of high cognitive function by measuring its influence on motor function, and 3) the detection of impairments or improvements in any of these functions. 
     The tests may provide a graph of saliency over time in tasks of sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment task. Further, the tests of the present disclosure may characterize functional impairment in sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment through evaluation of quantifiable characteristics. 
     One such quantifiable characteristic of impairment in sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment may be high latency to the subject&#39;s optimal function in a sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment task, which may be a less steep sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment function. 
     Another such quantifiable characteristic of impairment may be high variability of optimal function during a sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment task, which may be larger terminal fluctuations. 
     Yet another such quantifiable characteristic of impairment may be low enhancement of sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment function, particularly being steeper or higher, by valid cueing. The term “valid cueing” may refer to providing a stimulus that allows the subject to have fore-knowledge of a subsequent stimulus, accessing attention or memory that may be able to provide correct information. 
     Another such quantifiable characteristic of impairment may be high diminution of sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment function, particularly being flatter or lower, via invalid cueing. The term “invalid cueing” may be when attention or memory provides incorrect information about the nature or content of the sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment task. 
     Further, a disclosed embodiment of the present disclosure may include a motion associated with a stimulus area  199  that may be translation motion, radial motion, or motion that may be in a combination of translation motion and radial motion. Further, the motion associated with the stimulus area  199  may be random in nature. 
     Further, another embodiment of the present disclosure may include continuous feedback adjusted stimulation. More particularly, the stimuli may have target location specificity, wherein a spatial sub-section of the stimulus is distinct from the remainder of the stimulus by virtue of a gradient or boundary of difference in a single stimulus parameter or a selected set of stimulus parameters. Such a boundary may reflect a single step change at some edge, multiple step changes at successive distances steps away from the target&#39;s center, or a graded function with distance from the center of the target. 
     Further, the tests of the present disclosure may continually change the location of the target in the stimulus field. The present disclosure may include a continually changing response from the subject  192 . The target location may change by either angular displacement around an axis of rotation, displacement along a single axis or any fixed or varying orientation, or displacement along multiple axes, such as horizontal and vertical axes. 
     Additionally, the saliency of the target, which refers to perceptual distinctness of the target from the background, may be continually change during a sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment to alter the difficulty of the task and establish the sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment response function of the subject  192  in the sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment domain. 
     Further, in the tests of the present disclosure, the cursor  1050  may itself be the target zone of one of the superimposed overlapping tests in which the target position in another test may be controlled as a test target stimulus when the cursor  1050  is presented itself. A computer system  200  may control the saliency associated with the cursor  1050 , thereby allowing the subject  192  to perform two sensory-cognitive-motor tasks concurrently, a circumstance which may be associated with dual task interference. More particularly, the subject  192  may be asked to align one target area with another target area during functional impairment testing associated with dual task interference. 
     Further, during the tests of the present disclosure, the subject performance controls the rate and direction of change in target location and saliency. The speed, maximum acceleration, and rate of direction changes may be increased when the subject  192  if off target and decreased when the subject  192  is on target. The saliency may be increased when the subject  192  if off target, decreased when on target; the rate of change is proportionate to the size and duration of subject error. 
     Additionally, the duration of testing may be controlled by the size and duration of subject error. More particularly, sustained, stable scores may lead to earlier termination of testing. Multiple oscillations of scores around a stable level may lead to termination. The inability to capture the target at any saliency may lead to termination. 
     Further, exemplary sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment response characterization protocols may be initiated using configurations informed by previous tests. Visuo-motor response parameters, such as the maximum speed, maximum acceleration, minimum reversal interval, may be established in a particular test and then used as standards in subsequent tests. Further, visual contrast sensitivity measures may be determined and used in subsequent tests to provide each subject  192  with individually standardized stimuli in later tests. Further, sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment visual processing measures may be used for comparison to adjust scores in attentional and memory manipulations superimposed on those tests. 
     Further, another embodiment of the present disclosure may be to operate a system for quantitative assessment of functional impairment with minimal intervention. The present disclosure may include artificial intelligence capability to enable dynamic testing. Further, each test of the present disclosure may include an ability to dynamically respond to actions of subject  192 . Thus, each test in the present disclosure may shorten or lengthen itself automatically in response to the actions taken by the subject  192 . 
     In one embodiment, ten tests may be administered to assess functional impairment of the subject  192 . Further, in one embodiment, the tests may be administered in the order described below. However, the methods in accordance with the embodiments of the present disclosure may include the performance of any other subset of the ten tests which may be administered in any order. Further, the tests may encompass present and future known equivalents to the known components referred to herein by way of illustration. 
       FIG. 25  illustrates the initiation of the dynamic contrast test, which evaluates visuo-motor responses by analysis of the sensori-cognito-motor function in the domains of target movement speed, acceleration, and direction reversal. A patch of high contrast may be comprised of individual elements, which includes, but is not limited to, circles, checkerboard, or stripes. The individual elements, herein called dots, may be equally displaced to either high or low luminance levels and may be distinguished from intermediate luminance background elements. 
     The starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300  may initiate movement of a high color/contrast patch onto the stimulus area  199 . An equal number of darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may be presented within a neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which may be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . The darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may be randomly assigned in size in the range of three degrees or smaller, thereby maintaining a pink noise spatial frequency composition of dots across the screen. A high color/contrast patch, which may be an active stimulus radial segment  1310 , which may move onto the stimulus area  199 . The active radial segment  1310 , which may be a twenty-five degrees section within the circular border  1302 , may contain a number of relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314 . 
     The darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  fade in and out in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  with randomly assigned life time periods that are chosen within a timed interval. An operator  190  may pre-set the brightness level of the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , the number of darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  within the circular border  1302 , the relative color of the of the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  relative to the color of the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306 , and the maximum diameter of the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306 . 
     A stimulus generator  450  supplies an algorithm that may be applied to relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310 , which may make the relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  achieve a relatively higher contrast level compared to the dots in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  and the relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  achieve a relatively lower contrast level compared to the dots in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 . 
     The operator  190  may pre-set settings for the active stimulus radial segment  1310 , the brightness level of the active stimulus radial segment  1310 , the number of relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310 , the relative color of the of the active stimulus radial segment  1310  relative to the color of relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314 , and the maximum diameter of the relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314 . 
     During the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300 , the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may generate the highest contrast level for the relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and the lightest contrast level for the relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310 . Then, the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may begin to move continuously, and while doing so, the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may direction in either a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and/or it can accelerate or decelerate. 
     The subject  192  may be asked to identify and to parallel the movement of the active stimulus radial segment  1310  using an subject manipulandum  1402  during the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300 . The subject&#39;s control and movement of an subject manipulandum  1402  may be tracked on the subject display  198  with a cursor  1050 . The active stimulus radial segment  1310  may be tracked with the cursor  1050  via the subject&#39;s control. 
     As the active stimulus radial segment  1310  moves around the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , the contrast level within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may begin to change along with the location, direction, and speed of the active stimulus radial segment  1310 . As the contrast level of the active stimulus radial segment  1310  begins to decline, the subject  192  will find it to be more difficult to follow the movements of the active stimulus radial segment  1310 . Therefore, the operator  190  may gauge an approximate threshold for the relative contrast level of the active stimulus radial segment  1310  that the user can decipher. 
       FIG. 26  shows the intermediate phase of the dynamic contrast module test  1320 , a phase marked by a discontinuous nature. During this discontinuous phase, the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may move about in a discontinuous fashion, beginning with fade-out stage of a low contrast level for the active stimulus radial segment  1310  at a level equal to or lower than the initial contrast level of the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300 . 
     During this fade-out period, the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may fade-out initially. Subsequently, the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may fade-in with the relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  being recreated in contrast conditions according to original randomization conditions; however, the recreated relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  are moved, via a motion herein analogous to a jumping motion, to a new location within the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which is filled with darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  306  and may also be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . 
     Whenever the subject  192  moves the subject manipulandum  402 , the cursor  1050  may track the target active stimulus radial segment  1310 ; if the subject  192  can successfully track the target active stimulus radial segment  1310  within a predetermined limit, an instant bright flash and beep may signal and may confirm the action of the subject  192 . The intermediate phase of the dynamic contrast test  1320  may continue with further jumps until the operator  190  develops a further refined threshold; subsequent restarting of the intermediate phase of the dynamic contrast test  1320  may continue at varying levels of contrast and rates of contrast increase, resulting in a repeat process until an ensuing threshold may be attained. 
       FIG. 27  illustrates the termination phase of the dynamic contrast test  1322 , during which the subject  192  may no longer distinguish the presence of an active stimulus radial segment  1310  within the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 . At this point, the final location of the cursor  1050  may mark the critical threshold, for which the data of the threshold in used in the ensuing tests. Immediately following the critical threshold point, the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may fill the entire the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which may be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . 
       FIG. 28  depicts the starting phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test  1324 , which may involve the implementation of a patch of high luminance elements  1325  onto an active stimulus radial segment  1310 , which may be within the circular border  1302 . The patch of high luminance elements  1325  may include, but are not limited, to being circles, checkerboard, or stripes. The individual elements may be distinguished from intermediate luminance background elements to vary saliency. The subject  192  controls the position and movement of a cursor  1050  to match that of the target. 
     During the starting phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test  1324 , high luminance elements  1325  may be distinguished from the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  that may be randomly assigned in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 . 
       FIG. 29  depicts the intermediate phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test  1326 . The high luminance elements  1325  may be automatically transitioned to becoming low luminance, thereby becoming low luminance elements  1327 , during the intermediate phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test  1325 . The transition to becoming low luminance elements  1327  may enable the subject  192  to determine the threshold. 
       FIG. 30  illustrates the termination phase of the visual contrast sensitivity test  1328 , during which the subject  192  may be presented with both a mixed luminance elements, comprising both high luminance elements  1325  and low luminance elements  1327 , within the active stimulus radial segment  1310 . During the process of the stimulus radial segment  1310  gradually presenting a mixed luminance, the subject  192  may be cued to determine the threshold to achieve an equal number of high luminance elements  1325  and low luminance elements  1327  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310 . At the point when the subject  192  may determine an equal number of high luminance elements  1325  and low luminance elements  1327 , the final location of the cursor  1050  may mark the critical threshold, for which the data of the threshold in used in the ensuing tests. 
       FIG. 31  depicts the initiation of the visual form discrimination test, during which patches of regular shapes may be distorted to distinguish target area shapes from their background. During the visual form discrimination test, patches of regular shapes may be distorted to distinguish the target area shapes from the background. The patches of regular shape may be distorted in a manner including, but not limited to, size, shape, aspect ratio, line thickness, and/or orientation. The subject  192  may control the position and movement of cursor  1050  to match that of the target. 
     During the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 , an equal number of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  may be presented within a neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which may be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . The darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  may be randomly assigned in sizes of one unit length width and three unit lengths height across the screen. An active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336 , which may be a twenty-five degrees section within the circular border  1302 , contains a number of relatively higher contrast level darker rectangles  1332  and relatively lower contrast level lighter rectangles  1334 . 
     An operator  190  may pre-set the brightness level of the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , the number of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  within the circular border  1302 , the relative color of the of the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  relative to the color of the darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334 , and the maximum diameter of the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306 . 
     The darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  may fade in and out in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  with assigned life time periods that may chosen within a timed interval set between thirty-six and one-hundred eight frames at seventy-two frames per second with emergence and fading occurring over three frames. Further, the darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  may fade in and out in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  while moving to random new positions. 
     The subject  192  may be asked to identify the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  using a manipulandum  402 , during the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 . The subject&#39;s control and movement of a subject manipulandum  402  may be tracked on the subject display  198  with a cursor  1050 . The active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  may be tracked with the cursor  1050  via the subject&#39;s control. 
       FIG. 32  displays the intermediate phase of the visual form discrimination test  1340 , a phase marked by a discontinuous nature. During this discontinuous phase, the rectangular elements within the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  may vary in size, shape, and orientation while the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  moves continuously around the circular border  1302  with varying levels of distinctiveness. More particularly, the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  may move continuously around the circular border  1302  while accelerating or decelerating and/or moving clockwise or counterclockwise; furthermore, the rectangular elements within the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  may change direction of movement from clockwise to counterclockwise or vice-a-versa. 
     The subject  192  may be asked to parallel the movement of the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  using a cursor  1050 , which a may be physical interface akin to a wheel or a joystick, during the intermediate phase of the visual form module test  1340 . Subsequently, the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  fades-in with the relatively higher contrast level darker rectangles  1332  and relatively lower contrast level lighter rectangles  1334  within the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  being recreated in contrast conditions according to original randomization conditions; however, the recreated relatively higher contrast level darker rectangles  1332  and relatively lower contrast level lighter rectangles  1334  may be moved, via a motion herein analogous to a jumping motion, to a new location within the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 . 
     Whenever the subject  192  moves the cursor  1050  into the target active stimulus radial segment  1310 , an instant bright flash and beep may signal and may confirm the action of the subject  192 . The intermediate phase of the visual form module test  1340  may continue with further jumps until the operator  190  develops a further refined threshold; subsequent restarting of the intermediate phase of the intermediate phase of the visual form module test  1340  may continue at varying levels of contrast and rates of contrast increase, resulting in a repeat process until an ensuing threshold is attained. 
       FIG. 33  illustrates the termination phase of the dynamic contrast discrimination test  1348 , during which the subject  192  may no longer distinguish the presence of the active visual form module stimulus radial segment  1336  within the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 . Hence, the darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  may fill the entire the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which may be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . At this point, the final location of the cursor  1050  may mark the critical threshold, for which the data of the threshold may be used in the ensuing tests. 
       FIG. 34  depicts the initiation of the visual motion discrimination test, during which spots move in a direction or create a motion defined edge or a point. The subject  192  may control the position and movement of a cursor  1050  to match of the target. During the visual motion discrimination test, the salience of the target may be decreased by shifting more elements to random motion. 
     The starting phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1350  may include segmental presentations of a radial center of motion in optic flow. An equal number of darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may be presented within a neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which may be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . The contrast levels for the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may be set two confidence intervals above the threshold established in the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300 . The darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may move in an outward radial pattern  1354  by moving away from a focus of expansion  1352 , which may be a designated point within the circular border  1302 . 
     More particularly, the focus of expansion, or the focus of contraction that may be created by inward directed movement  1352  may be located anywhere within the circular border; however the eccentricity of the focus of expansion  1352  may be pre-set. Further, the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may be randomly assigned in size in the range of three degrees or smaller, thereby maintaining a pink noise spatial frequency composition of dots across the screen. Moreover, the control variables may include background brightness neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  and dot density, color, spatial frequency, and speed of the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306 . The ratio of dots that may be moving radially outwards to the number of total dots may be known as the coherence ratio. Of note, the ratio may be full coherence, with a ratio of one to one, or no coherence, with a ratio of zero to one. 
     The darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may fade and emerge with a random lifespan between thirty-six and seventy-two frames with three frames for emergence and three frames for fading. The speed of the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may be a sin 2  function of the angular distance from the focus of expansion  1352 . The starting phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1350  may begin with full coherence where the subject  192  can all points moving in a outward radial pattern  1354  away from the singular point known as the focus of expansion  1352 . 
       FIG. 35  shows the intermediate phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1360 , a phase during which the focus of expansion  1352  may move with varying movements of coherence, location, direction, and speed. The darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may move in an outward radial pattern  1354  or in a random fashion  1356  from a frame to another frame. The subject&#39;s cursor identification is a twenty-five degree radial segment, such that the subject  192  may need to move the cursor  1050  so that the focus of expansion  1352  falls within the twenty-five degree segment. 
     When the subject  192  moves the cursor  1050  to enter the twenty-give degree segment, then the intermediate phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1360  may produce a bright flash and beep. Starting with a low level of coherence, the focus of expansion  1352  may begin to move in a discontinuous, jumping motion around the circular border  1302  with each fade and emergence sequence; with each such jump, the coherence level increases. 
       FIG. 36  illustrates the termination phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1370 , during which the subject  192  may no longer distinguish the presence of the twenty-five degree segment that may be associated with the focus of expansion  1352 . Hence, the darker-contrast dots  1304  and lighter-contrast dots  1306  may fill the entire the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308 , which may be surrounded by the circular border  1302 . At this point, the final location of the cursor  1050  may mark the critical threshold, for which the data of the threshold in used in the ensuing tests. Ultimately, this threshold may be achieved by successively constraining the starting coherence and the rate of increase. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 34 ,  35 , and  36 , may include, but is not limited to, presentations of a radial center of motion in optic flow, which may include the focus of expansion  1352  in the stimulus area  199 . Future equivalents of the present subject matter may present a uniform simple planar translational motion stimulus, wherein the subject  192  may orient a cursor  1050 , which may include, but is not limited to a ball-and-stick cursor, in the direction of motion. Further, future equivalents of the present subject matter may present a circular pattern of motion with the center of rotation moving around the stimulus area  199  just as the focus of expansion  1352  may move around in a radial optic flow field. Further, the circular and radial stimuli may be summed to create a spiral in which the center of the spiral may move around the stimulus area  199 . 
       FIG. 37  depicts the superposition of form and motion tests, herein called the spatial distractor tasks test, to assess the combination of visual motion and visual form. The subject  192  may control the position and movement of cursor  1050  to match that of the target, while form, motion, or other basic stimuli are combined with brief visual or auditory distracters to interfere with the task. 
     The starting phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1380  may include the superimposed darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  from the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330  in  FIG. 31  together with relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  from the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300  in  FIG. 25 . 
     The number of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  in the starting phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1380  may be one-half of the number of the equivalent structures of the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 . The number of relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may be one-half of the number of the equivalent structures of in the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300 . Hence, both patterns may be shown are one-half of the cue element density than previously with the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330  and the starting phase of the dynamic contrast test  1300  respectively. 
     Additionally, the darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  in the starting phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1380  have distinction levels set between two confidence levels below and above the established threshold for distinctiveness from the termination phase of the dynamic contrast discrimination test  1348  of  FIG. 33 . As described in great detail in the detailed description of the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 , the darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  may fade in and out in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  while moving to random new positions. 
     Additionally, relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  in the starting phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1380  have coherence levels set between two confidence intervals below and above the established threshold for coherence from the termination phase of the dynamic contrast test  1322  in  FIG. 27 . As described in great detail in the detailed description of the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 , relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may fade in and out in the neutral-contrast background stimulus area  1308  with randomly assigned life time periods that are chosen within a timed interval. 
     Further, the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may undergo the same sequence of settings and conditions outlined by the algorithm of the stimulus generator  450  as described in great detail in the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 . Meanwhile, auditory distracters or other basic stimuli may interfere with the task, which may be associated with dual task interference. Further, dual task interference may require the subject to align one target area on top of another target area. Further, the subject may need to utilize two functions of its brain, which may cause interference amongst those brain functions. 
       FIG. 38  illustrates the intermediate phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1390 , a phase during which the focus of expansion  1352  moves with varying movements of coherence, location, direction, and speed outlined by the detailed description of the intermediate phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1360  in  FIG. 35 . The variations with the focus of expansion  1352  may be superimposed with active stimulus radial segment  1310  described in detail in the starting phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1380  of  FIG. 37 . This superimposition of tasks may test the subject&#39;s cognitive processing ability while the subject  192  must utilize two functions of its brain, wherein the functions may interfere with each other. 
     In order to ensure that the subject  192  understands the complexity of the superimposed test iteration present in the intermediate phase of the spatial distractor tasks test  1390 , the first continuous movement may be performed at two confidence intervals above the threshold established in termination phase of the dynamic contrast module test  1322  and two confidence intervals below the threshold established in the termination phase of the dynamic contrast discrimination test  1348 . Subsequently, the continuous movement may be performed at two confidence intervals above the threshold established in termination phase of the dynamic contrast module test  1322  and two confidence intervals below the threshold established in the termination phase of the dynamic contrast discrimination test  1348 . 
     The subject&#39;s control and movement of a subject manipulandum  402  may be implemented to track to the form target and the motion target onto the subject display  198  with the use of a cursor  1050 . The form target and the motion target locations may be separated by a predetermined separation distance within the range of one-hundred fifty degrees and two-hundred ten degrees. 
     The subject  192  may use the cursor  1050  to track form target, which includes the form changes of the darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334 . The subject  192  may use the cursor  1050  to track motion of motion target, which includes the relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314 . Further, the cursor  1050  may also be implemented to track the motion and to track the form in the respective tests of  FIGS. 39 ,  40 , and  41  as outlined in greater detail in the accompanying descriptions of those respective figures. 
     After a pre-selected limit, the two stimuli of motion and form shift places in the paradigm and the subject  192  may be instructed to shift tasks. 
       FIG. 39  represents the left-up form target and right-up motion target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1400 . Both the patterns of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  and relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may be superimposed during phase  1400 . 
       FIG. 40  displays the left-up form, low-distinct target and right-up motion, high-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1410 . Both the patterns of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  and relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may be superimposed during the phase of the left-up form, low-distinct target and right-up motion, high-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1410 . 
       FIG. 41  shows the left-up form, high-distinct target and right-up motion, low-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1420 . Both the patterns of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  and relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may be superimposed during the phase of the left-up form, high-distinct target and right-up motion, low-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1420 . 
       FIG. 42  portrays the left-up form, high-distinct target and right-up motion, high-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1430 . Both the patterns of darker-contrast rectangles  1332  and lighter-contrast rectangles  1334  and relatively higher contrast level darker dots  1312  and relatively lower contrast level lighter dots  1314  within the active stimulus radial segment  1310  may be superimposed during the phase of the left-up form, high-distinct target and right-up motion, high-coherence target of the visual motion and visual form attention test  1330 . 
     Further, the spatial distractor tasks testing of the subject matter regarding  FIGS. 37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40 ,  41 , and  42 , may be added to any test of the present disclosure. The radial optic flow stimulus may be the substrate for the spatial distractor tasks testing; however any other functional assessment test may be associated with the stimulus for the substrate of the spatial distractor tasks testing. The present disclosure describes a subject  192  that is performing a spatial discrimination task and may position the cursor  1050 , which may be a ball-and-stick cursor, at the location on the stimulus area  199  where the subject  192  sees a high saliency wedge within the stimulus area  199 . The present disclosure may superimpose the intermittent addition of an alternative, high saliency cue somewhere else, such that the subject  192  may transiently shift attention to that distractor so that the distractor is not task relevant and also not to degrade the target following in the main task. The distractor may include, but is not limited to, a wedge of unique stimulus elements flashing for one to three seconds at a position far from the target wedge, an area of unique elements flashing on for one to three seconds at a position far from the target edge, or the transient displacement of the cursor  1050  to some place other than that specified by the subject  192 . 
     Further, the spatial distractor tasks testing of the subject matter regarding  FIGS. 37 ,  38 ,  39 ,  40 ,  41 , and  42 , may be associated with spatial memory testing, in which the spatial memory of a subject  192  may be used to augment the subject&#39;s response sensitivity in any of the main tasks, which may include, but it not limited to, form, motion, and words. In these main tasks, the target wedge may transiently flash to some high saliency cue, which may include, but it not limited to one hundred percent saliency of the target cue, or all white, or all black, and then may revert to its near threshold saliency and makes a stereotyped movement or selected number of movements. After repeated exposures, the subject  192  may implicitly, that is without being told, acquire knowledge of the flashes&#39; meaning. The subject  192  may use that information to enhance the ability to follow the target stimulus through that spatial sequence; for instance, the subject  192  may further use movement as a stimulus for learning a sequence of movements. Further, spatial memory testing may include, but is not limited to sequence memory or location memory. Further, spatial memory testing may be a combination of testing associated with sequence memory and location memory. 
       FIG. 43  displays the starting phase of the letter identification latency module  1440 , during which equal numbers of alternating black-colored letter sets  1442  and white-colored letter sets  1444  may be presented in a fixed sequence around the edge of circular, stimulus area  1446 . The three letters words may be distributed in the background, which may comprise a cluster of other three letter sets and also a real word that defines a target. Further, a word may be associated with correct letters that may be imbedded in a stimulus ring with three letter figures made of non-letters. 
     The three letters for the alternating black-colored letter sets  1442  and white-colored letter sets  1444  may fall into the following categories of: 1) target word, 2) legal-non-words, 3) illegal non-words, 4) flipped illegal non-words, and 5) flipped and rotated non-word. The three letters may be in different orientations or may utilize false fonts as further outlined in  FIGS. 44 ,  45 , and  46 . 
     Font, size, and position of the black-colored letter sets  1442  and white-colored letter sets  1444  may be determined by the pre-sets from the starting phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1350  and the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 . The contrast of the letters may be set at being two confidence intervals above the subject&#39;s contrast threshold obtained in the termination phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1370 . 
       FIG. 44  shows normal letters orientation  1450 , which may be applied towards the three letters that were described previously in the starting phase of the letter identification latency module  1440  of  FIG. 43 . 
       FIG. 45  shows mirror rotated letters orientation  1454 , which may be applied towards the three letters that were described previously in the starting phase of the letter identification latency module  1440  of  FIG. 43 . 
       FIG. 46  shows inverted letters orientation  1458 , which may be applied towards the three letters that were described previously in the starting phase of the letter identification latency module  1440  of  FIG. 43 . 
       FIG. 47  shows the intermediate phase of the letter identification latency module  1460 , during which the three letters of the black-colored letter sets  1442  and white-colored letter sets  1444 , which may be within the circular stimulus area  1446 , may be partially obscured to reduce their saliency and to establish the cursor tracking response function. During the start of the test paradigm of the intermediate phase of the letter identification latency module  1460 , the subject  192  may be presented with the highest level of letter continuity. A plurality of the item stimulus may set drift around the stimulus area  199 , which may be a ring, in unison. The subject  192  may move the cursor  1050  to the real word and follow it for a predetermined time period or a predetermined extent as angular degrees of drift. The score may be derived from the time it takes the subject  192  to register the location of the real word that may be captured and tracked. 
     Subsequently, word continuity may be continually and algorithmically disrupted by the superimposition of background color line segments that occlude a set percentage of the length of the line segments forming the characters in the display. The subject  192  may be asked to follow the letter sets using the cursor  1050  during the continuous movement of the letter sets around the around the edge of circular stimulus area  1446 . 
     The letter sets in the array may drift in unison around the display circle or may emerge and fade to take-up new positions on the screen with a full field random cycle length in a settable range, which may be typically thirty six to one-hundred eight frames at seventy-two hertz with emergence and fading each occurring over three frames. The position and continuity of the letter sets may be subjected to the algorithmic control of the stimulus generator  450 . Each position shift may trigger the transition of all character sets to other specific example of each set type in the corresponding relative positions. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the intermediate phase of the letter identification latency module  1460 , a word may be made of correct letters imbedded within the stimulus area  199 , which may be a ring, with other similar length, correct letter, non-words. All of the three-letter items may drift around the ring in unison. The subject  192  may move the cursor  1050  to the real word and follow it for a predetermined time period or a predetermined angular degrees of drift. The score may be derived from the time it takes the subject  192  to register the location of the real word that may be captured and tracked. 
     In yet another embodiment of the intermediate phase of the letter identification latency module  1460 , correct letter words may be imbedded in the stimulus area  199 , which may be a ring, with other similar length, correct letter, non-words. All of the three-letter items my drift around the ring in unison. The content of the ring, which may refer to its real words and non-words, my change regularly as the content drifts so there is always a wedge, which may be a ring segment, containing real words and the remainder of the ring contains non-words. Further, as the subject  192  moves the cursor  1050  to the real word and follows it for some predetermined time period or a predetermined angular degrees of drift, the saliency of all of the letters of the words and non-words may be slowly decreased. The saliency may be decreased either by crossing-out parts of all of the letters with a background colored set of thin lines, or by rotating the individual letters, or by covering the ring with flickering letter-colored dots. The subject  192  may continue to find the real words as algorithmic adjusting of the saliency determines that subject&#39;s threshold saliency. The score is derived from the saliency level as described for the other tests of the present disclosure. 
       FIG. 48  shows the termination phase of the letter identification latency module  1470 , during which an approximate threshold may be defined. There remains continuous movement of the target character set and subject tracking during continuous varying of the continuity and exchange of all character sets across cycles towards the end of intermediate phase of the letter identification latency module  1460 . 
     Later, during the termination phase of the letter identification latency module  1470 , while in discontinuous movement, the target segment may fade to the background parameters and then may emerge at a new location where it may undergo increasing continuity until the subject&#39;s cursor may enter the target segment area. Immediately thereafter, there may be an instantaneous bright flash and beep. Subsequent iterations of this trial may yield a refined threshold. 
       FIG. 49  illustrates the starting phase of the verbal memory module  1480 . This test paradigm may present a series of words  1482  in a list to be memorized. The sample consists of a series of words  1482  that may be arranged around the edge of the stimulus area  199  and headed by the label “Words might be”  1484 . The sample words are positioned at selected locations with selected light and dark luminances. During the starting phase of the verbal memory module  1480 , the subject  192  may be presented a predetermined series of short words, each with a predetermined number of letters in a set sequence. 
       FIG. 50  displays the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 . The subject  192  may track the target word in the series of words  1482 , starting form low saliency and successively becoming more salient, via the presentation of sample and match across contrast stimuli  1492 . A particular word in a series of words  1482  may be presented one-at-a-time along with words not on the list. In other words, in this series of stimuli, the word target may be either sample words or not. 
     During the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 , the subject  192  may be first shown a series of ten high contrast black or white words for a pre-set adjustable time period, which may be for five seconds. The subject  192  may then be shown a series of the same type of stimuli that may have been used in the starting phase of the letter identification latency module  1440  as was shown in  FIG. 43 . The presentation of sample and match across contrast stimuli  1492 , which may be implemented in the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 , may be the same fade-jump-emerge contrast modulation sequence that may have been used in the intermediate phase of the letter identification latency module  1460 . 
     In an alternate embodiment of the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 , the target word from a predetermined ordered list may be presented at very low saliency after each presentation of a predetermined series of short words. That target word from a predetermined ordered list may drift around the stimulus ring imbedded in with other drifting three-letter sets that are not words. While the subject  192  remains off target, the saliency of the word and the three letter non-words may slowly increase until the word is recognizable as the only word on the screen. The subject  192  may move the cursor  1050 , which may be a ball-stick cursor, to the target word and follow it for some predetermined time period or a predetermined degrees of angular movement to register correct acquisition. When the subject  192  has correctly identified the target word, the score for that trial is recorded as the current saliency level. Then, the next word from the list may be imbedded in a new set of three letter non-words at very low saliency and the task continues. The cycle of first viewing the list presentation of these predetermined list of words and then testing on finding the words at the lowest saliency possible may be repeated three times. Scoring of the test may include the number of words correctly acquired, the saliency level at which they were acquired, and the slope of the average saliency levels across the three repetitions of the task. 
     In yet another embodiment of the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 , only one target word may be implemented. In this exemplary embodiment, after the saliency score is calculated, the number of target words may be slowly increased to repeatedly derive that subject&#39;s saliency threshold as the word list length increases. If one knows the word one is looking for, then it may be relatively easy to find it; however, the degree of difficulty may increase with an increase in the number of words. Each subject  192  may have a function of saliency versus list length and that may be a measure of verbal memory&#39;s ability to enhance word recognition. 
     In an alternate embodiment of the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 , may include, but is not limited to, a ring with only correct letter words. As the subject  192  correctly follows the initially single word around the ring, another word will be added and the subject  192  may shift to following the new word. Throughout the test, new words may be added and may be monitored for how long it takes the subject  192  to identify and shift to the new word most recently added to the subject display  198 . Scoring may be accomplished by measuring the new word identification latency, as a function of the total number of words in the display during that response. 
     The responses to the stimuli from the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490  may be used to establish response dynamics in the stimulus contrast domain and the kinematics domain. During the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 , the target orientation may be placed towards the left or towards the right of the stimulus area  199 , and may be either high, moderate, or low contrast.  FIGS. 51 ,  52 , and  53  show the various placement configurations and contrast conditions that may be implemented during the intermediate phase of the verbal memory module  1490 . 
     With reference to  FIGS. 51 ,  52 , and  53 , equal numbers of alternating black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored symbol sets  1504  may be presented in a fixed sequence around the edge of circular stimulus area  1446 . The three letters symbol sets may be distributed in the background that may comprise a cluster of other three letter symbol sets and also a real word that defines the target. 
     The three symbols for the alternating black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored symbol sets  1504  may include, but are not limited to, symbols, target words, legal-non-words, illegal non-words, flipped illegal non-words, flipped and rotated non-words. Further, the three letters symbol sets may be in any orientation. Further, the font, size, and position of the black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored letter symbol sets  1504  may be determined by the pre-sets from the starting phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1350  and the starting phase of the visual form discrimination test  1330 . The contrast of the black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored letter symbol sets  1504  may be set at being two confidence intervals above the subject&#39;s contrast threshold obtained in the termination phase of the visual motion discrimination test  1370 . 
     More particularly,  FIG. 51  illustrates the left-up target orientation with black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored symbol sets  1504  in high contrast.  FIG. 52  shows the right-up target orientation with black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored symbol sets  1504  in moderate contrast.  FIG. 53  displays the right-down target orientation with black-colored symbol sets  1502  and white-colored symbol sets  1504  in low contrast. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 54 ,  55 , and  56 , facial emotion sensitivity tests may be presented to the subject  192 . More particularly,  FIG. 54  shows a low difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1530 ,  FIG. 55  shows a moderate difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1540 , and  FIG. 56  shows a high difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1550 , for any of which a display of faces  1532  may be presented to the subject  192 . A plurality of faces, may be all of the same person or may be a pseudo-person composite of other faces. 
     Subsequently, the affective emotion may be modulated, such as from grimace or frown to a wide-eyed or smile emotion. There may be a gradient of emotion expressions distributed across the faces, from happy faces at one point to sad faces one hundred eighty degrees from that point. The subject  192  may locate and may track the happiest face or the saddest face. The subject  192  may be asked to use the subject manipulandum  1402  to point to the happier faces as the differences between the happier and sadder faces may be narrowed with good performance or widened with poor performance. The subject  192  may demonstrate a minimal difference in affective expression required for their identifying the most positive or happy expression. The subject  192  may use the rotatory manipulandum  414  to rotate and to align the cursor  1050  to the happiest face  1538  as the range from sad to happy is increased, thereby making task easier, or decreased, thereby making task harder. The subject  192  may rotate the rotatory manipulandum  414  in a clockwise rotation  1534  or in a counterclockwise rotation  1536 . 
     The algorithm associated with the present disclosure may alter the range of faces, which may be from very happy to very sad. The algorithm associated with the present disclosure may alter the range of faces, which may be slightly happy to slightly sad. The mid-point may be from happy to neutral, or in an alternative embodiment may be from neutral to sad. Further, the algorithm associated with the present disclosure may be easy or difficult. Further, the subject&#39;s score may be a reflection of the minimal range, which may be of greatest difficulty, at which the subject  192  may accurately locate and track the target. 
     The low difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1530 , moderate difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1540 , and high difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1550  differ in the level of difficulty within each test. Further, the low difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1530 , moderate difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1540 , and high difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1550  may help determine the test subject&#39;s perceptual threshold range scored relative to a normal range derived from comparison subject groups. Facial gender, age, and identity may be randomly shifted during intervals of the test session. Future known equivalents of the low difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1530 , moderate difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1540 , and high difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1550  may use only one gender, age, etc. facial identity group or can use alternative target, which may include, but is not limited to, the saddest face. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 57 ,  58 , and  59 , facial emotion nulling tests may be presented to the subject  192 . More particularly,  FIG. 57  shows a low difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1570 ,  FIG. 58  shows a moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1580 , and  FIG. 59  shows a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1590 , for any of which a display of a particular facial expression  1572  is presented to the subject  192 . 
     During either the low difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1570 , moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1580 , or a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1590 , a single image of a same gender face is presented and the system varies the affective expression of the face from a sadder to a happier expression and vice-a-versa. 
     The emotional expression of the single face may be varied as described in the low difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1530 , moderate difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1540 , and high difficulty facial emotion sensitivity test  1550 . During either the low difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1570 , moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1580 , or a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1590 , the subject  192  may uses the subject manipulandum  402  to make the face appear neutral, which may refer to being neither happy nor sad. The subject  192  may be asked to rotate the rotary manipulandum  414  with counter-clockwise rotation  1534 , thereby making the expression sadder with the use of the turn to make sadder feature  1576 , or with clockwise rotation, thereby making the expression happier with the use of the turn to make happier feature  1574 . 
     The goal of the subject  192  may be to continue to rotate the rotary manipulandum  414  to make the expression neutral as the present disclosure makes sustained changes in the affective expression of the facial display. The subject  192  may use the rotatory manipulandum  414  to morphologically transform facial expression across the spectrum from sadder, which may be through repeated counterclockwise rotation  1536 , to happier, which may be through repeated clockwise rotation  1534 , to keep the facial expression neutral. 
     The algorithm of the present disclosure may continually shift the emotional content of the facial expression and the subject  192  may have to change it back toward neutral. Such a test may be associated with being a nulling task, wherein only the parameter is changed, and the subject  192  has to perceive the direction and magnitude of the change and set it back to where it was. The scoring may reflect the magnitude of change required to trigger the subject&#39;s response, the point called neutral from happy and the point called neutral from sad. 
     The low difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1570 , moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1580 , or a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1590  each may be sixty to one-hundred eighty seconds in duration. The system repeatedly may drift the facial expression to a sadder or to a happier condition as the subject  192  may try to null that effect and may try maintain a neutral expression on the display. The system may use an adaptive staircase protocol to determine the smallest perturbation of facial expression that may provoke an appropriate counter-response from the test subject  192  as a facial expression perceptual threshold, which may be scored relative to normal range identifiable by others in the comparison subject group. 
     Facial gender, age, and identity may be randomly shifted during intervals of the test session. Future known equivalents of the low difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1570 , moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1580 , or a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1590  may use only one gender, age, etc. 
     Further, the low difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1570 , moderate difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1580 , or a high difficulty facial emotion nulling test  1590  each differ in the level of difficulty within each test. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 60 ,  61 , and  62 , social cues sensitivity tests may be presented to the subject  192 . More particularly,  FIG. 60  illustrates the low difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1610 ,  FIG. 61  illustrates the moderate difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1620 , and  FIG. 62  illustrates the high difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1630 , for each of which a display of varying aggressiveness levels  1612  may be presented to the subject. 
     In one embodiment, the display of varying aggressiveness levels  1612  may show a number of whole body images of different persons. The subject  192  may use the rotatory manipulandum  414  to align the cursor  1050  to the image of the person being most aggressive, herein called the most aggressive person  1614 . The subject  192  may rotate the rotatory manipulandum  414  in a clockwise rotation  1534  or in a counterclockwise rotation  1536  to indicate the most aggressive person  1614  on the display of varying aggressiveness levels  1612 . As the range from submissive to aggressive is increased, thereby making the task easier, or decreased, thereby making the task harder, the perceptual threshold of the subject  192  relative to a normal range may be characterized in comparison. 
     In an alternate embodiment, a variety of different body positional attributes may be displayed. For example, the body positional attribute may be associated with the most/least worried or the most/least frightened or the most/least leadership ability or the most/least assertive. The body positional attribute of least worried may be associated with, but is not limited to, smiling, titled head and shoulders, and hands at the side. The body positional attribute of most worried may be associated with, but is not limited to, pursed-lips, slouched head and shoulders, and hands tightly clasped in front of the lower face. The body positional attribute of most frightened may be associated with, but is not limited to, eyes bulging, limbs flexed, and jerky movements. The body positional attribute of least frightened may be associated with, but is not limited to, smiling, upright, and slow movements. 
     Person gender, age, and identity may be randomly shifted during intervals of the test session for any or all of the low difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1610 , the moderate difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1620 , or the high difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1630 . Future known equivalents of any or all of the low difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1610 , the moderate difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1620 , or the high difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1630  may use only one gender, age, etc. postural identity group or can use alternative target features, which may include, but is not limited to, the most submissive person. 
     Further, the low difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1610 , the moderate difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1620 , or the high difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1630  may also consider the interactions between the persons depicted in the display of varying aggressiveness levels  1612  such that the subject  192  indicates who may be the most likely to be leader of the group. The subject  192  may change the cursor  1050  to indicate who they see as the likely leader with differences between target leaders&#39; traits and those of the person least likely to assume leadership are successively changed. 
     Further, the low difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1610 , the moderate difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1620 , or the high difficulty social cues sensitivity test  1630  each differ in the level of difficulty within each test. 
     In an alternative embodiment of social perception domain testing, nulling adjustments may be evaluated in the social interactions nulling test, which may include, but is not limited to, a full body representation of two people standing side-by-side in an ongoing social interaction. One person may stand on the left side and another person may stand on the right side. One person may be a man, and the other person may be a woman; alternatively, both persons may be of the same sex. Further, one person may be of a particular ethnic background; another person may be of a different ethnic background; alternatively, both persons may be of the same ethnic background. During social interactions nulling testing, postures, facial expressions, and/or gestures may be distinctive among the two people; however, the two persons may not interact with words. The subject  192  may be instructed to adjust the left or right person to make one more dominant and the algorithm will change the balance, thereby making nulling adjustments. 
     With reference to  FIGS. 63 ,  64 , and  65 , typical target traces are presented, which may be, but are not limited to, sixty seconds traces.  FIG. 63  shows an exemplary position trace  1650 .  FIG. 64  illustrates an exemplary speed trace  1660 .  FIG. 65  depicts an exemplary acceleration trace  1670 . 
     The exemplary position trace  1650 , the exemplary speed trace  1660 , and the exemplary acceleration trace  1670  may show the target location, which may be driven in a tracking fashion by the stimulus generator  450  or in discontinuous fashion by jumping movements. Further, the exemplary position trace  1650 , the exemplary speed trace  1660 , and the exemplary acceleration trace  1670  may show initially, the highest signal-to-noise stimuli that may trigger the subject capture, which may refer to the positioning near the center of the highest signal-to-noise segment. 
     The exemplary tests of the present disclosure capture may be followed by irregular tracking movements with graded signal-to-noise fade-emerge cycles that may trigger capture cycles. Further, the exemplary tests of the present disclosure capture may include increasing, then decreasing, position and velocity error. During the exemplary tests of the present disclosure, escape, which may refer to gradually increasing error, may trigger either: 1) fixed-position re-emergence to trigger re-capture and then continuing movement, or 2) full-fading, jump to a new site, and re-emergence there until re-capture triggers new tracking movements. Further, uniformity of the distribution of capture position may be assisted by jumps and movement parameters may during signal-to-noise (S/N) fading cycles that may be based on subject error. 
     With reference to  FIG. 66 , an exemplary 3D S/N Gradient  1680 , wherein S/N may refer to signal-to-noise ration, is presented. The exemplary 3D S/N Gradient  1680  may be representative of being across all stimulus domains. The exemplary tests of the present disclosure may be implemented to achieve a three-fold signal-to-noise gradient. More particularly, during the exemplary tests of the present disclosure, from the point furthest from the target in the stimulus area  199 , there may be a gradual increase to one-third of the current peak signal-to-noise ratio at the edges of the target segment, which may be a thirty degrees segment. Further, another one-third signal-to-noise ratio increase may extend from the thirty degrees edges to a ten degrees segment in the stimulus area  199 . The exemplary tests of the present disclosure may be structured such that the peak signal-to-noise should extend uniformly across the ten degrees segment, which may result in the hypothetical 3D S/N Gradient  1680 . 
     With reference to  FIG. 67  an exemplary S/N profile  1690  with respect to vertical and horizontal positions is presented. The an exemplary S/N profile  1690  may be reflective of subject  192  response analyses that indicate the subject  192  may accurately track to yield reliable performance across all domains. Such reliable performance may be achieved via following of recommendations, which may be, but is not limited to: 
     i) The first stimulus cycles of each test of the present disclosure may be at low motion parameters and high signal-to-noise ratios so that the subject  192  may understand the task. 
     ii) Motor performance may be established by imposing a series of movement acceleration-deceleration cycles or direction reversal cycles in at least two of the four quadrants of the hypothetical S/N profile  1690 . 
     iii) Subsequent cycles may include cue fading, which may result from decreasing the signal-to-noise ratio, such that when the cue escapes, the motion may slow in order to see whether the subject  192  may reduce the error distance. If the subject  192  catches-up, then the slower speed may become the new base speed. However, if error reduction does not occur, then the target slows down to a stop and the signal-to-noise ratio is increased until re-capture triggers the resumption of movement. 
     iv) There may be a jump to a new position near the current response position by slowly increasing the signal-to-noise ratio. 
     v) Repeated test cycles may be used to refine the impression of the signal-to-noise threshold and fastest speed and acceleration that the subject may accurately track to yield reliable performance across all conditions. 
       FIG. 68  shows an exemplary position error function profile  1700 , which may be a plot of error by signal-to-noise to describe the performance of the subject  192 . A graph of the position error axis  1701  versus the signal-to-noise percentage axis  1703  that may be present in the position error function profile  1700 . The position error maximum  1702  and the position error minimum  1705  may be asymptotic projections, which may capture the best and the worst performance of the subject  192 . The position error peak slope  1706  may be the mid point in the range of plus or minus five percent of the highest slope. The position error area  1704  under the curve of the position error function profile  1700  may describe the overall performance of the subject  192 . Further, the position error function profile  1700  may be qualitatively grouped into profiles based on degree of differences, such as being good, fair, and poor. 
       FIG. 69  shows an exemplary sampled position error function profile  1710 , which may be a plot of the position error axis  1701  versus the signal-to-noise percentage axis  1703 , on a sampled basis. The exemplary sampled position error function profile  1710  may be based on a threshold and a variance measure from the tests of the present disclosure. For instance, in the visual motion discrimination test, which is further described in  FIGS. 34 ,  35 , and  36 , the threshold is taken to be the signal-to-noise ratio under the point on the sampled position error function profile  1710  that is two position error significant digits back on along the sampled position error function profile  1710  curve. The present disclosure may utilize the range of the signal-to-noise covered by the two position error significant digit steps as a variance measures. The measures that may be implemented in the position error function profile  1700  and the sampled position error function profile  1710  may be sensitive to best performance, capture escape variability, and the local slope of the position error curve. 
       FIG. 70  displays an exemplary velocity error function profile  1720 , which may be a plot of the velocity error axis  1708  versus the signal-to-noise percentage axis  1703 . The velocity error function profile  1720  may show a representation of the difference between the stimulus and the response velocity. 
       FIG. 71  portrays the instantaneous position error  1800  of the subject  192 . The subject error  1802  may be a function of the subject position  1804 , the angular error  1806 , and the target position  1808 . The subject error  1802  may be an error in the selection of the target on the stimulus area  199  by the subject  192 . The subject position  1804  may be an error in the position of the target on the stimulus area  199  by the subject  192 . The angular error  1806  may be an error in the angular position of the target on the stimulus area  199  by the subject  192 . 
       FIG. 72  shows a graphical representation of the error magnitude throughout test  1850 , which may be a plot of the position error in degrees  1852  versus the time from the start of this test  808 , which may be represented as ten seconds intervals  806 . Further, the graph the error magnitude throughout test  1850  may represent increasing positional error  1854  with a higher value of time from the start of this test  808 . Further, the graph the error magnitude throughout test  1850  may represent decreasing positional error  1854  with a lower value of time from the start of this test  808 . 
     Further, the error associated with the error magnitude throughout test  1850  may peak at an escape event, during which a subject  192  may lose track of the target, but may decrease when the subject  192  re-captures the target to successively converge on subject&#39;s typical error margin. The error may be signed as being plus or minus one-hundred and eighty degrees relative to the direction of target movement, with the subject  192  being ahead or behind that movement. 
       FIG. 73  depicts the stimulus obscuration over time  1950 , which may refer to the task difficulty over time. More particularly, the graph of stimulus obscuration over time  1956  may be a graph of percentage stimulus obscuration  1952  versus time since start of test module in this session  1954 . Further, the time since start of test module in this session  1954  may be represented, but is not limited to, as being five seconds intervals. 
       FIG. 74  displays the subject position error relative to target position  1960 . The subject position error relative to target position  1960  may be a graph of subject position error over time  1962 , which may be represented as a graph of position error in degrees  1964  versus time since start of test module in this session  1954 . Further, the time since start of test module in this session  1954  may be represented, but is not limited to, as being five seconds intervals. 
       FIG. 75  illustrates depicts the subject velocity error relative to target velocity  1970 . More particularly, the graph of subject velocity error relative to target velocity  1972  may be graphically represented as subject minus target as percent maximum  1974  versus time since start of test module in this session  1954 . Further, the time since start of test module in this session  1954  may be represented as subject minus target as percent maximum versus but is not limited to, as being five seconds intervals. 
       FIG. 76  shows a results summary  2000  via a graphical user interface, which may be based on the results from the tests of the present disclosure. The results summary may include, but is not limited to, a representation of the quantitative assessment of language processing  2002 , verbal memory  2004 , motion perception  2006 , shape perception  2008 , contrast sensitivity  2010 , and spatial attention  2012 . The results summary  2000  may aid in determining a quantitative score and interpretation of passing or failing in relation to functional impairment. More particularly, the sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment associated with the results summary  2000  may result in characterization protocols that may yield response functions relating time and saliency that may generate real-time scores based on: the average final saliency score over three periods, the saliency at which the most time may be spent during testing, and the total time that may be spent in the test. 
     Additional scoring may be achieved off-line and may focus on an algorithmic fit of an asymptotic function to the response function generated in each sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment protocol. This function may then be used to describe performance and generate secondary measures, which may include, but are not limited to: 1) basic measures such as the fit parameters, asymptote and area under the curve, 2) comparative measures as the differences between the basic measures of a subject on a particular sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment protocol and that subject from other selected sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment protocols, 3) comparative measures as the differences between the basic measures of a subject on a test and the measures from a selected group of comparison subjects. 
     Sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment measures associated with the results summary  2000  may be derived in real-time for each test and may be transformed as standardized scores relative to an age-based comparison group. These standardized scores may be derived separately for each sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment protocol. 
     Sensory-motor neurocognitive assessment protocol scores associated with the results summary  2000  may be shown on a radial plot, grouped by cognitive relatedness sensory-motor neurocognitive assessments. Differences between age-normal function and a test subject&#39;s function may be colored in particular color to indicate sub-normal function and colored in a different color to indicate supernormal function. Differences that may be induced by the negative impact of invalid cues and the positive impact of valid cues may be shown as closely related functions. 
     Further, differences between a subject&#39;s function and age-normal function may be inferred from observed differences in sensory-motor neurocognitive assessments for that subject  192  and the average of subjects in the same age range. Differences in excess of two standard deviations of the average for that age group may be interpreted as being substantial. Substantial impairments may be taken to suggest some underlying pathophysiology. Specific patterns of impairments across sensory-motor neurocognitive assessments may be associated with specific pathophysiologies. 
       FIG. 77  provides an exemplary recommended diagnosis summary  2050 , which may include a clinical diagnosis and/or a recommendation medications listing. The recommended diagnosis summary  2050  may include, but is not limited to, a functional impairment characteristic profile  2052  and a recommended diagnosis  2054 . The functional impairment characteristic profile  2052  may be shown graphically on a plot of the rating of the functional impairment characteristic versus the calendar time range  2056 . More particularly, the scale for the rating of the functional impairment characteristic of the functional impairment characteristic profile  2052  may range from normal for age  2060  to more impaired  2062 . 
     In summary, the present disclosure teaches a method, system, and tangible computer readable medium for addressing quantitative assessment of functional impairment in a subject. An apparatus for quantifying assessment of functional impairment in a subject comprising an input device, a display device, a control device, and a tangible computer readable medium. A hierarchical system of functional impairment tests that quantitatively measures the response characteristics of the brain in the subject. 
     The present disclosure is applicable towards neurological diagnostics, ophthalmological diagnostics, psychiatric diagnostics, medical and surgical diagnostics, disease progression monitoring, treatment monitoring, side-effects monitoring, human developmental applications, human performance in educational applications, public health assessments, human performance assessment related to social analysis, insurance evaluations, human resources evaluations, task readiness assessments, animal health and research, coupling with genomics, coupling with neuroimaging, coupling with neurophysiology, coupling with neurochemistry, and coupling with basic science research. 
     More particularly and with regards towards neurological diagnostics, the present disclosure may be applicable towards diagnosis of diseases and disorders affecting perception, behavior, and cognition. Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of dementias related to Alzheimer&#39;s disease and its precursors syndromes that include mild cognitive impairment and age-associated memory impairment and other diagnostic sub-types of related pathologies. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of fronto-temporal dementias and precursor syndromes and sub-syndromes that include frontal lobar, temporal lobar, and Pick&#39;s dementias and other diagnostic sub-types of related pathologies. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of Parkinsonism, and its precursors syndromes and related disorders that include Parkinsonian dementias and other movement disorders in the rigid-bradykinetic syndromic spectrum and related pathologies. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of cerebrovascular disorders with central manifestations of overt stroke or of the manifestations of the transient, sub-acute, or chronic abnormal perfusion of brain tissue. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of the neurological manifestations of exposure to toxic substances including poisons, combustion products, and environmental hazards and extremes including chemicals and radiation. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of the neurological manifestations of changes in endogenous or artificial hormones resulting from natural progression through the life-cycle or from therapeutic or iatrogenic changes in hormonal effects. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of neurological disorders in young people including attention deficit disorders, hyperactivity disorders, and disorders of specific functional or learning impairments. 
     More particularly and with regards towards ophthalmological diagnostics, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the diagnosis of ophthalmological diseases and disorders. Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of ocular disease and their precursors syndromes that include disorders of the cornea, lens, and vitreous and their supportive tissues in the eye. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of disorders of aqueous fluid dynamics, such as glaucoma, and related disorders of intrinsic, traumatic, or iatrogenic etiology affecting aqueous generation, passage, or resorption. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of disorders of the retina and its supportive tissues including exposures to toxins and radiation, inherited disorders of the retina, trauma to the retina, and deformations of retinal structure or function. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of disorders of the pathways leading from the eye and to the brain centers responsible for processing visual signals. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of disorders of the brain centers, nerves, and muscles responsible for stably maintaining the position and movement of the eye that result in the ability to control gaze direction and conjugacy. 
     More particularly and with regards towards psychiatric diagnostics, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of affective disease and their precursors syndromes that include major depression, bipolar illnesses, and the affective manifestations of other psychiatric disorders. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of disorders of psychotic disorders that include psychiatric disorders in the spectrum of schizophrenia as well as psychotic disorders that are the result of other illnesses, acute or chronic. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of disorders in the spectrum of autism, Asperger&#39;s, and Williams syndromes and related psychiatric disorders caused by inherited or non-inherited genetic disorders and early life mis- or mal-formations. 
     More particularly and with regards towards medical and surgical diagnostics, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the diagnosis of functional complications of medical and surgical disorders, such as with the early detection and diagnosis of functional complications of cardiopulmonary disease including those that result in the hypoperfusion and hypo-oxygenation of the brain in an acute, sub-acute, or chronic, temporary or permanent manner. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of functional complications of urinary-renal or gastrointestinal disorders including conditions that alter the absorption, accumulation, metabolism, or elimination of endogenous or exogenous toxins. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of functional complications of closed or penetrating head trauma in an acute, sub-acute, or chronic, temporary or permanent manner. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of functional complications of surgical procedures that alter brain function directly or indirectly in an acute, sub-acute, or chronic, temporary or permanent manner. 
     Further, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the early detection and diagnosis of functional complications of anesthesiological procedures that alter brain function directly or indirectly in an acute, sub-acute, or chronic, temporary or permanent manner. 
     More particularly and with regards towards disease progression monitoring, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative monitoring of the regression, stabilization, or progression of functional disorders as a consequence of changes in the pathophysiology causing those functional disorders. 
     More particularly and with regards towards treatment monitoring, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative monitoring of the improvement, stabilization, or lack of improvement or stabilization in functional disorders as a consequence of therapeutic interventions. 
     More particularly and with regards towards side-effects monitoring, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the declines in function as the result of interventional side-effects that would include side-effects of neuro-active and non-neuro-active treatments that may constitute common, or idiosyncratic reactions. 
     More particularly and with regards towards human developmental applications, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human development in a medical or educational setting to determine an individual&#39;s development status, further development, or departure from expected patterns and rates of development either across functional domains or with limited functional domains. 
     More particularly and with regards towards human performance in educational applications, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in an educational setting to determine an individual&#39;s suitability for an educational program or need for alternatives, and of therapeutic or other exogenous factors&#39; influence on suitability for educational programs. 
     More particularly and with regards towards public health assessments, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of public health to monitor the health of select or broadly defined groups, and for comparisons across groups undergoing treatments, exposures, or other factors that may impact on human performance. 
     More particularly and with regards towards human performance assessment related to social analysis, the present disclosure may be applicable towards qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of efforts to understand differences between socially defined or socially recognized populations reflecting endogenous differences or the impact of exogenous factors such as stress, cultural changes, or other events. 
     More particularly and with regards towards insurance evaluations, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human functional capacities as an indication of their risk of developing impairments, and as an indication of their need for access to medical or other resources. 
     More particularly and with regards towards human resources evaluations, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of human resources evaluations related to hiring individuals well-suited to specific tasks. 
     More particularly and with regards towards task readiness assessments, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of readiness to perform critical tasks that might be subject to endogenous or exogenous variation in readiness to perform that task, these would include the effects of sleep status and therapeutic or non-therapeutic medicines or other exposures. 
     More particularly and with regards towards animal health and research, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of an animal&#39;s functional capacities in many contexts that include: assessment of an animal&#39;s functional health or of a group of animal&#39;s health in the context of veterinary medical or veterinary population health applications, assessment of the impact of potentially therapeutic interventions on an animal&#39;s functional health, either in the context of a veterinary medical application or for evaluations of interventions for potential human applications, or assessment of a toxic exposure on an animal&#39;s functional health, either in the context of a veterinary medical application or for evaluations of the potential consequences of human exposures. 
     More particularly and with regards towards coupling with genomics, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in relation to molecular or chemical analyses of human differences and their relationship to performance including analyses of chemical and genetic factors that may influence performance in isolation or in combination with other factors. 
     More particularly and with regards towards coupling with neuroimaging, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of technologically mediated assessments of brain structure and function by imaging modalities including, but not limited to, the analysis of normal, variant, or pathological anatomy or physiology by radiological imaging, magnetic imaging, radioactive isotope imaging, and thermal imaging. 
     More particularly and with regards towards coupling with neurophysiology, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of technologically mediated assessments of brain structure and function by electrical or magnetic field measurements of normal, variant, or pathological anatomy or physiology by resting or activated activity. 
     More particularly and with regards towards coupling with neurochemistry, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative assessment of human performance in the setting of technologically mediated assessments of brain chemistry and metabolism by direct sampling of brain or other neural tissue, sampling cerebrospinal fluid, or sampling of other bodily fluids or derivatives. 
     More particularly and with regards towards coupling with basic science research, the present disclosure may be applicable towards the qualitative or quantitative human performance in the context of basic scientific research on the subject of human performance or on other subjects in which human performance relations are relevant. 
     All references, including publications, patent applications, and patents, cited herein are hereby incorporated by reference to the same extent as if each reference were individually and specifically indicated to be incorporated by reference and were set forth in its entirety herein. 
     The methods and process flows of the disclosed subject matter that are associated with the computer readable medium may be described in the general context of computer-executable instructions, such as program modules, being executed by a computer. Generally, program modules include routines, programs, objects, components, data structures, etc. that performs particular tasks or implement particular abstract data types. The disclosed subject matter may also be practiced in distributed computing environments wherein tasks are performed by remote processing devices that are linked through a communications network. In a distributed computing environment, program modules may be located in local and/or remote computer storage media including memory storage devices. 
     The detailed description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of exemplary embodiments in which the presently disclosed process can be practiced. The term “exemplary” used throughout this description means “serving as an example, instance, or illustration,” and should not necessarily be construed as preferred or advantageous over other embodiments. 
     The detailed description includes specific details for providing a thorough understanding of the presently disclosed method and system. However, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that the presently disclosed process may be practiced without these specific details. In some instances, well-known structures and devices are shown in block diagram form in order to avoid obscuring the concepts of the presently disclosed method and system. 
     The foregoing description of the disclosed embodiments is provided to enable any person skilled in the art to make or use the claimed subject matter. Various modifications to these embodiments will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art, and the generic principles defined herein may be applied to other embodiments without the use of the innovative faculty. Thus, the claimed subject matter is not intended to be limited to the embodiments shown herein but is to be accorded the widest scope consistent with the principles and novel features disclosed herein. It is contemplated that additional embodiments are within the spirit and true scope of this disclosed method and system as claimed below.