1. Continuous Performance Tests (CPT)
Can Executive Function and Attention
Be Independently Measured?
Brooke Leonard1*, Andrea Mejia1 , Inmaculada Ibanez-Casas 1,2, Antonio E. Puente1
1 University of North Carolina Wilmington, 2 University of Granada
Objective
Data Synthesis
Table 1. Domain-Specific Constructs and Tasks
Domain
Constructs
Tasks
Attention
Response Inhibition
Vigilance
Working Memory
Processing Speed
Continuous Performance Tests (CPT)
Stroop Tests
Executive Function
Shifting
Inhibition
Updating
Trail-Making Tasks
Card-sorting Tasks
Stroop Tasks
Finding “pure” measures of cognitive ability is a challenging task. Often times, a task will measure more than one cognitive domain. “Task impurity,” as psychologist Lawrence Weiskrantz noted, is most often found to be an issues with the domain of executive function.
The purpose of this review was to determine the possibility of obtaining “pure” measures for two of the most widely researched neuropsychological domains: attention and executive function. Both of these domains target the frontal lobe, and attention even more specifically is localized to the prefrontal cortex (Fig. 1)
Through the systematic review, the domain of attention brought out constructs of response inhibition, vigilance, working memory and processing speed.
The executive function domain resulted in constructs of working memory, shifting, inhibition, and updating.
Table 1 shows the most common constructs and tasks used to measure each domain as found by the systematic review.
Along with these findings, numerous theories were examined and they revealed controversy over which specific constructs correspond to specific domains.
Conclusions
The empirical and theoretical reviews for attention and executive function proved that a “pure” task is hard to come by. There is a large overlap between the two domains, including but not limited to shared constructs of inhibition and working memory. Therefore, it is unclear as to where to draw the line between what is to be considered attention and what is executive function.
Figure 1. Areas of brain attributed to Attention and Executive Function
Data Selection
References
The domains of attention and executive function were dissected through empirical and theoretical approaches.
Meta-analyses were reviewed to identify measures that can be considered the most sensitive in detecting domain-specific deficits. The databases that were used were Web of Science and PsychInfo.
To maintain consistency the specific search terms used for the literature review were “neuropsychology,” “tasks,” “review,” “meta-analysis” and the respective domain name (i.e. “attention”). “And” was used between search terms as needed.
It was decided that a theoretical framework was also necessary in order to obtain comprehensive results. The work of Luria and Sperry, as well as other neuropsychology moguls.
Barkley, R. A. (1997a). Behavioral inhibition, sustained attention, and executive functions:
Constructing a unifying theory of ADHD. Psychological Bulletin.121: 65–94.
Posner, M. I., & Boies, S. J. (1971). Components of attention. Psychological Review, 78(5), doi: /h
(Full list of references available upon request)
*Corresponding author: Brooke E Leonard, University of North Carolina Wilmington