Letter-Number Sequencing Subtests Research Articles

Comparing embedded performance validity indicators within the WAIS-IV Letter-Number sequencing subtest to Reliable Digit Span among adults referred for evaluation of attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder

Objectives: This study investigated the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition Letter-Number Sequencing (LNS) subtest as an embedded performance validity indicator among adults undergoing an attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) evaluation, and its potential incremental value over Reliable Digit Span (RDS). Method: This cross-sectional study comprised 543 adults who underwent neuropsychological evaluation for ADHD. Patients were divided into valid (n = 480) and invalid (n = 63) groups based on multiple criterion performance validity tests. Results: LNS total raw scores, age-corrected scaled scores, and age- and education-corrected T-scores demonstrated excellent classification accuracy (area under the curve of .84, .83, and .82, respectively). The optimal cutoff for LNS raw score (≤16), age-corrected scaled score (≤7), and age- and education-corrected T-score (≤36) yielded .51 sensitivity and .94 specificity. Slightly lower sensitivity (.40) and higher specificity (.98) was associated with a more conservative T-score cutoff of ≤33. Multivariate models incorporating both LNS and RDS improved classification accuracy (area under the curve of .86), and LNS scores explained a significant but modest proportion of variance in validity status above and beyond RDS. Chaining LNS T-score of ≤33 with RDS cutoff of ≤7 increased sensitivity to .69 while maintaining ≥.90 specificity. Conclusions: Findings provide preliminary evidence for the criterion and construct validity of LNS as an embedded validity indicator in ADHD evaluations. Practitioners are encouraged to use LNS T-score cutoff of ≤33 or ≤36 to assess the validity of obtained test data. Employing either of these LNS cutoffs with RDS may enhance the detection of invalid performance.

Ab. No. 16 Exercises and Pain Education Improves Clinical Outcomes in a Subgroup of Patients With Chronic Low Back Pain Positive for Central Sensitization

Introduction: Exercises have been found to decrease pain and the overall sensitivity of the central nervous system through the activation of exercise-induced endogenous analgesia and spinal inhibitory mechanisms. Despite the recommendations of many reviews that exercise programs reduce pain and disability in persons with chronic pain, the overall confidence is considered ‘critically low’. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of different exercises (aerobic, motor control, and superficial strengthening) relative to patient education on pain sensitivity and clinical outcomes in patients with chronic non-specific low back pain (NSCLBP) positive for central sensitization. Methods: The trial is a randomized controlled study with concealed allocation and blinding of assessors with four experimental groups (n=172) and one healthy control group (n=43). Participants were engaged in moderately intense treadmill walking sessions, activities for trunk stabilization, and strengthening exercises for the trunk and abdominal muscles along with patient education as per their group allocation. The control group received only patient education. The primary outcome was the cold pressor test. The secondary outcomes were pain intensity, disability, letter-number sequencing subtest, Stroop neurophysiological test, quality of life, and isometric muscle strength of the spine and hip muscles. Measures were taken at baseline and 12 and 24 weeks. Result: The results showed that patients with CLBP exhibit impaired CPM relative to healthy volunteers even after the intervention period. The overall results of the study showed improvement with time, and there was no difference between the groups in improving outcomes (p > 0.05). There was a small effect size in favor of groups that received exercise and patient education (<0.15) over the control group. Conclusion: Considering the comparable effects on clinical outcomes in patients with NSCLBP, this population may be encouraged to undertake exercises of moderate intensity of their preference.

Emotion Comprehension and Socio-cognitive Skills in Children with High Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders.

This study aimed to compare socio-cognitive skills and emotion comprehension between children with Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD) and children with neurotypical development. This quantitative, cross-sectional, controlled study involved 19 children in each group, matched by age (6-12 years) and sex. The assessments examined cognitive aspects (Intelligence Quotient was assessed using the Vocabulary and Matrix Reasoning subtests; working memory using the digit span and letter-number sequencing subtests; attention using the Continuous Performance Test - Identical Pairs; and executive functions using the Trail Making Test), social functions (Children's Social Skills, Behavior Problems, and Academic Competence Inventory), and emotion comprehension (language was assessed using the Strange Stories Test; emotional facial expressions using the digital emotion comprehension test; emotional/affective prosody using the Profiling Elements of Prosody in Speech-Communication - Brazilian Portuguese adapted version). The group with ASD exhibited better performance in executive functions (p=0.02). However, they lagged the control group in social skills (p=0.04), behavior problems (p=0.03), and emotion comprehension (language, facial expressions, and prosody) (all p<0.05). The findings indicate that children with ASD have diminished performance in social skills and emotion comprehension compared to children with neurotypical development. Therefore, the development of technologies and/or therapeutic interventions that address these deficits among children with ASD is recommended.

THE RELATIONSHIP BETWEEN DIGITAL GAME ADDICTION, EXECUTIVE FUNCTIONS AND IMPULSIVITY IN EARLY ADOLESCENTS

Privacy is what one can be in his or her private space without being disturbed by others. Privacy invasion is the unauthorized intervention of other people in the private area of the person. The current study was largely concerned with the association between digital game addiction, specific cognitive functions especially, three components of executive function (inhibition, set shifting and working memory) and impulsivity in early adolescents. Sampling consisted of 6th (55.1%) and 7th (44.9%) grade middle school students (36 females and 62 males). The mean age of the students was determined as 12.35 years (SD =0.75; age range, 10–14 years). Digital game addiction, inhibition, set shifting, working memory, and impulsivity were evaluated via Digital Game Addiction Scale (DGAS), Stroop Test TBAG Form, Trail Making Test (TMT), Wechsler Memory Scale-III Letter-Number Sequencing Subtest (WMS–III/LNS) and Short Form of Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11-SF), respectively. According to the correlation analysis results, selective and complex attention, inhibition, set shifting, and impulse control were diminished with increasing digital game addiction. There is no significant relationship between digital game addiction and working memory. Consistent with the correlation analysis, structural equation model results revealed that digital game addiction significantly predicts inhibition, set shifting and impulsivity [x2 (15, N = 98) = 7.476, p &gt; 0.5; x2/df = 1.246; RMSEA = .05; CFI = .95; GFI = .97]. As a results, it can be concluded that digital game addiction should be controlled in order to manage impulses and develop high-capacity cognitive skills in children.

Higher Perceived Stress as an Independent Predictor for Lower Use of Emotion-Focused Coping Strategies in Hypertensive Individuals.

IntroductionIndividuals with high scores of perceived stress (PS) are more likely to develop arterial hypertension (AH) than those with low levels of stress. In addition to this, AH and stress are both independent risk factors for executive function (EF) impairment and worse quality of life (QoL). Therefore, strategies to control and cope with emotional stress are of paramount importance. However, less is known about the association of PS with EF, QoL, and coping in individuals with hypertension. This study aimed to evaluate the association of PS with EF performance, coping strategies use, and QoL in a sample of hypertensive patients.MethodsWe assessed a group of 45 hypertensive individuals (mean age = 58.42 ± 8.9 years, 71.11% female). The EF evaluation was: Frontal Assessment Battery; Controlled Oral Word Association Test—FAS; Letter-Number Sequencing subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Third Edition (WAIS-III); Digit Span subtest from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R) and Wisconsin Card Sorting Test. The type and frequency of coping strategies used were measured by the Brief Coping with Experienced Problems Scale (Brief-COPE). The World Health Organization Quality of Life Questionnaire Bref (WHOQOL-bref) was applied to measure QoL. The associations of the PS with EF performance, coping strategies, and QoL were investigated using univariate and multiple linear regression models adjusted for age, sex, education, systolic pressure, and depression symptoms.ResultsIn the multivariate analyses, higher PS was an independent predictor for a lower frequency of emotion-focused strategy use (β = −0.23; p = 0.03). However, PS was not significantly related to EF and Qol in this sample. The lower the PS, the greater the use of emotion-focused coping.ConclusionHypertensive individuals with high PS use less frequently positive emotion-focused coping strategies.

Effectiveness of the Combined Memory Training Program on Memory Skills and School Achievement of Children with Specific Learning Disorders: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial

Introduction: Children with Specific Learning Disorders (SLD) suffer from some cognitive deficits affecting their school achievement. This study investigated the effect of the combined Working Memory Training Program (WMTP) with the Caillou program (the game-like features of computerized cognitive training programs) on memory (as a cognitive function) and academic achievement in children with SLD.Materials and Methods: In this pilot randomized controlled trial study, 30 children with SLD, aged 8-11 years, participated. They were randomly allocated to the intervention and control groups. The intervention group received 20 training sessions in 10 weeks, each lasting 30-45 minutes. The control group only participated in the assessment sessions. The primary outcome was verbal working memory skills assessed by the digit span and letter-number sequencing subtests of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, the fourth edition (WISC-IV). Also, the grades of science, literature, and mathematics were collected as the secondary outcomes. Children were assessed 3 times: baseline (pre-test), after the intervention (post-test), and 2 months after the intervention (follow-up).Results: Working memory (digit span and letter-number sequencing scores) and mathematics grades were significantly improved in the intervention group, as compared to the control group at the post-test session (P&lt;0.05) and remained in the follow-up session.Conclusion: Although this combined program effectively improves working memory and mathematic grades, further research is suggested for more academic achievement.

Cognitive Measures and the Acceptable Noise Level.

The aim of this study was to determine the relation between the acceptable noise level (ANL) and cognitive measures of auditory attention and working memory. Young adults were administered the following tests: the ANL, the Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Fourth Edition, the Auditory Attention subtest from the Woodcock-Johnson Tests of Cognitive Abilities, the Hearing in Noise Test (HINT), and the operation span (OSPAN) test. A correlation matrix was constructed using Pearson coefficients. Twenty-four young adults aged 20-29 years with normal hearing participated in the study. No significant relationships were found among the ANL and the different cognitive tasks, nor was there a significant relation found between the ANL and the HINT. However, significant relationships were found between individual cognitive tasks. There was a significant relation found between selective attention and the most comfortable level of presentation of a story. Selective attention may be a key cognitive function in acceptance of background noise.

Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition Profiles of Children With Autism Spectrum Disorder Using a Classification and Regression Trees Analysis

The Wechsler Intelligence Scales for Children (WISC) are the most widely used instrument in assessing cognitive ability, especially with children with autism spectrum disorder (ASD). Previous literature on the WISC has demonstrated a divergent pattern of performance on the WISC for children ASD compared to their typically developing peers; however, there is a lack of research concerning the most recent iteration, the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children, Fifth Edition (WISC-V). Due to the distinctive changes made to the WISC-V, we sought to identify the pattern of performance of children with ASD on the WISC-V using a classification and regression (CART) analysis. The current study used the standardization sample data of the WISC-V obtained from NCS Pearson, Inc. Sixty-two children diagnosed with ASD, along with their demographically matched controls, comprised the sample. Results revealed the Comprehension and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests were the most important factors in predicting group membership for children with ASD with an accompanying language impairment. Children with ASD without an accompanying language impairment, however, were difficult to distinguish from matched controls through the CART analysis. Results suggest school psychologists and other clinicians should administer all primary and supplemental subtests of the WISC-V as part of a comprehensive assessment of ASD.

Association between the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III and early return to work after traumatic brain injury.

Residual capacity evaluation via neuropsychological testing can facilitate the development of a rehabilitation plan in patients following a traumatic brain injury (TBI). This study aimed to confirm the tasks that patients must perform well for early return to work (RTW) following TBI using the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale III (WAIS-III). In total, 40 male and 13 female patients who suffered from neurobehavioral disabilities following TBI were recruited and classified into two groups: the successfully returned to work group (SRTW-G; n = 22) and the unsuccessfully returned to work group (USRTW-G; n = 31). The outcomes assessed by WAIS-III and the time to RTW were compared between the SRTW-G and USRTW-G groups. Multiple logistic regression, multiple regression analysis, and Cox regression were employed to assess differences between the groups. The Comprehension and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests of the WAIS-III were significantly correlated with early RTW more than the other subtests. We found that, as reflected in the two subtests, patients with TBI must be able to perform well in the following tasks for early RTW: Retention of information for short time periods, information processing, and social judgment based on the knowledge of the patient's experience.

The effect of increased family finance and dual-parental absence since infancy on Children's cognitive Abilities.

Existing research suggests that parental absence per se does not have a main effect on children's cognitive development. However, this body of research is confounded by decreased family finance resulted from parental absence. Further insights on children's cognitive development can be gained by studying situations where parental absence actually leads to higher family finance. China's rural left-behind children (LBC) are uniquely suited for this purpose because of their extended separation from parents who migrated to work for better family finance. The participants were 74 LBC (M=9.99 years, SD=2.66) whose parents both migrated away for work within six months of their births and 74 non-left-behind children (NLBC) (M=10.03 years, SD=2.58) of similar backgrounds but whose parents never migrated. We used the 4th Edition of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC-IV) to individually collected data on the children's Verbal Comprehension (which includes Similarities, Vocabulary, and Comprehension subtests), Perceptual Reasoning (which includes Block Design, Picture Concepts and Matric Reasoning subtests), Working Memory (which includes Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests), and Processing Speed (which includes Coding and Symbol Search subtests). We found that the LBC scored lower than the NLBC on the language Comprehension and Vocabulary subtests of the Verbal Comprehension Index (Cohen's d=0.41; p=.01). Subsequent General Linear Modeling analyses revealed that for the Comprehension subtest: (1) dual-parental absence significantly and negatively predicted Comprehension scores and (2) monthly family income significantly and positively predicted Comprehension scores for the LBC but not for the NLBC. For Vocabulary subtest, only dual-parental absence was significant. Overall, these results offer a deeper understanding on the effect of dual parental absence and changes in family finance on different domains of children's cognitive development.

Cognitive impairment and psychopathology in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest survivors in Denmark: The REVIVAL cohort study protocol

IntroductionCognitive impairment and psychopathology caused by brain hypoxia and the traumatic impact of critical illness are common in cardiac arrest survivors and can lead to negative consequences of everyday life...

Subjective working memory predicts objective memory in cognitively normal aging: a HUNT study

BackgroundRecent studies have shown that subjective memory is multi-, rather than uni-dimensional, in line with the results of objective memory tests. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether there is an association between aspects of memory measured by the subjective Meta-Memory Questionnaire (MMQ) and aspects of memory measured by the objective Wechsler Memory Scale-III (WMS-III) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III) tests in cognitively normal older adults.MethodThe study subjects (n = 106) were cognitively normal, were aged 57–89 years and had participated in the third wave of the North-Trøndelag Health survey (HUNT3). All subjects had completed the MMQ, the WMS-III and the WAIS-III. Previous results from the MMQ (measured as the total MMQ score; the Component I score, related to long-term explicit declarative memory; and the Component II score, related to working/short-term memory) were compared with objective results from WMS-III (Logical Memory) and WAIS-III (Vocabulary and Letter-Number Sequencing) subtests. We conducted linear regression analyses with each objective memory test result as the dependent variable, and subjective memory measures and demographics as independent variables, as well as analyses of MMQ items vs. objective memory.ResultsSubjective working memory impairment (Component II) was significant related to poor performance in objective episodic memory, according to correlation and regression analyses with demographic covariates. In contrast, ratings of impaired subjective declarative memory (Component I) were not related to poor objective memory performance.ConclusionsSpecific aspects of subjective memory related differentially to performance in specific objective memory tests. Clinicians and researchers might consider targeting working memory aspects of subjective memory tests, when seeking an estimate of objective memory performance.

Demographically-adjusted norms for the paced auditory serial addition test and letter number sequencing test in Spanish-speaking adults: Results from the neuropsychological norms for the U.S.-Mexico border region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) Project

Objective The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test (PASAT) and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale Letter Number Sequencing subtest (LNS) are two commonly used measures of working memory. Demographic variables (age, education, ethnicity, etc.) can impact performance on these measures, underscoring the need for demographically adjusted norms. We aimed to develop normative data for the PASAT and LNS for Spanish-speaking adults living in the U.S.-Mexico border region as part of a larger normative effort. Method Participants were native Spanish-speakers from the Neuropsychological Norms for the U.S. Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) project. Two hundred and forty-nine participants completed the PASAT and 202 participants completed LNS. Ages ranged from 19 to 60 and education from 0 to 20 years. Results Older age was associated with lower scores on LNS (p < .01) but not PASAT. Lower education was associated with lower scores on both tests (ps < .001). Women obtained lower raw scores than men on PASAT (ps < .003), and there were no significant main effects of gender on LNS raw scores. Raw-to-scaled score conversions were calculated, and fractional polynomial equations were developed to calculate demographically-adjusted T-scores accounting for age, education, and gender. Published norms for English-speaking non-Hispanic Whites substantially overestimated rates of impairment (defined as T-score < 40) on both the PASAT and LNS. Conclusions The use of the population-specific normative data may improve detection of working memory dysfunction in U.S. Spanish-speaking adults and contribute to improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning in this population. Whether the norms generalize to U.S. Spanish-speakers from other countries remains to be determined.

Normative Data for Two Working Memory Tasks in Spanish-Speaking US-Dwelling Adults

Abstract Objective Working memory assessment is an important component of a neuropsychological evaluation. The Paced Auditory Serial Addition Task (PASAT) and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale – Third Edition Letter Number Sequencing subtest (LNS) are two commonly used measures of working memory. Demographic variables (age, education, ethnicity, and country of origin) can impact performance on these measures, underscoring the need for demographically adjusted norms when utilizing these tests. We aimed to develop normative data for the PASAT and LNS for Spanish-speaking adults living in the US. Participants and Method The PASAT and LNS were administered to Spanish-speaking adults living in the US-Mexico border regions of California and Arizona as part of a larger normative effort in this population. Two hundred and forty-nine participants completed the PASAT and a subset (n = 202) also completed LNS. Ages ranged from 19-60 and education from 0-20 years. Results Older age was associated with lower scores on LNS (p &amp;lt; .01), but not the PASAT. Lower education was associated with lower scores on both tests (ps &amp;lt; .001). Females obtained lower raw scores than males on the PASAT (ps &amp;lt; .003), and there were no significant main effects of gender on LNS raw scores. Raw-to-scaled score conversions were calculated for the PASAT-50 item, PASAT-200 item, and LNS, and fractional polynomial equations were developed to calculate demographically-adjusted T-scores accounting for age, education, and gender. Published norms for English-speaking non-Hispanic Whites drastically overestimated rates of impairment (defined as T-score &amp;lt; 40) on both the PASAT and LNS. Conclusions The use of the population-specific normative data may improve detection of working memory dysfunction in Spanish-speaking adults living in the US and contribute to improved diagnostic accuracy and treatment planning in this population.

Investigating the relationship between decision-making processes and cognitive processes, personality traits, and affect via the structural equation model in young adults

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between decision making and set-shifting, working memory, planning, selective attention, personality and affect, and to investigate these relations with the help of the structural equation model (SEM). A total of 100 participants, 59 female and 41 male, participated in the study. The mean age of the participants was 20.42 years (SD = 1.37). Decision making, set-shifting, selective attention, planning, working memory, personality, and affect were measured via the Iowa Gambling Test (IGT), Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, Stroop Test TBAG Version, Tower of London Test, Wechsler Memory Scale-III Letter-Number Sequencing Subtest, Basic Personality Traits Inventory (BPTI), and Positive and Negative Affect Scale (PANAS), respectively, all of which were administered individually. Results of the correlation analyses revealed that various IGT scores were correlated with the four neuropsychological tests as well as the PANAS negative-affect subscale and the BPTI openness to experience factor. Furthermore, the first SEM analysis indicated that the independent latent variables of working memory, set-shifting and planning were significant in predicting the decision making. Finally, the second model of the Block Net Scores revealed the independent latent variables of set-shifting and planning as being significant in decision-making prediction.

Adjunctive tianeptine treatment for bipolar disorder: A 24-week randomized, placebo-controlled, maintenance trial.

The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and tolerability of tianeptine as an adjunctive maintenance treatment for bipolar depression. This is a multicenter double-blind randomized placebo-controlled maintenance trial of adjunctive tianeptine 37.5 mg/day. Participants ( n=161) had a Montgomery-Asberg Depression Rating Scale ⩾12 at entry. After eight weeks of open-label tianeptine treatment, those who responded to tianeptine ( n=69) were randomized to adjunctive tianeptine ( n=36) or placebo ( n=33) in addition to usual treatment. Kaplan-Meier estimates and the Mantel-Cox log-rank test were used to evaluate differences in time to intervention for a mood episode between the tianeptine and placebo groups. We also assessed overall functioning, biological rhythms, quality of life, rates of manic switch and serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor levels. There were no differences between adjunctive tianeptine or placebo regarding time to intervention or depression scores in the 24-week double-blind controlled phase. Patients in the tianeptine group showed better performance in the letter-number sequencing subtest from the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale at the endpoint ( p=0.014). Tianeptine was well tolerated and not associated with higher risk for manic switch compared to placebo. Tianeptine was not more effective than placebo in the maintenance treatment of bipolar depression. There is preliminary evidence suggesting a pro-cognitive effect of tianeptine in working memory compared to placebo.

Intellectual performance profi le of a sample of children and adolescents from Brazil with 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS) based on the Wechsler Scale

Abstract The 22q11.2 Deletion Syndrome (22q11.2DS), the most common human chromosome microdeletion syndrome, is associated with a very heterogeneous neurocognitive phenotype. One of the main characteristics of the syndrome spectrum is the intellectual variability, which encompasses average performance and intellectual disability and discrepancies between Verbal Intelligence Quotient and Performance Verbal Intelligence Quotient, with greater impairment in nonverbal tasks. The present study aimed at investigating the intellectual performance aspects of a 21children and adolescents sample from Brazil who had been diagnosed with 22q11.2DS, based on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children - 4th edition. The samples were reviewed considering the differences between indices. The results revealed an Full Scale Intelligence Quotient predominant in the borderline range (42 to 104) and a significant discrepancy between the indices of Verbal Comprehension and Perceptual Reasoning in 42% of the sample. With regard to the performance in the subtests alone, a better performance was found in Similarities, whereas block design, matrix reasoning, digit span and letter-number sequencing subtests were the most challenging. These findings indicate that a comprehensive assessment of intellectual performance aspects covering the different measures of the Wechsler Intelligence Scale may contribute to a broader understanding of the neurocognitive phenotype associated with 22q11.2DS.

The Relationship between Cognitive Function and Psychosocial Function in Chronic Schizophrenia Patients

The current study was conducted to investigate the relationship between cognitive function and psycho-social function in chronic schizophrenia patients using the recently revised K-WAIS-IV. K-WAIS-IV, BPRS, ILSS, SBS and WHOQOL-BREF was administered to 40 patients diagnosed with chronic schizophrenia. All scores were analyzed. In a partial correlation analysis, the results showed that even controlling for sex, age, and severity of psychopathology, the Block Design (BD) subtest was significantly correlated with the care of personal possessions in independent living skills and Arithmetic(AR) and Comprehension (CO) subtests were significantly correlated with the transportation in independent living skills. In addition, Similarity (SI), CO, and Letter-Number sequencing (LN) subtests, as well as Processing Speed Index (PSI) were significantly correlated with the language ability in social behavior. Moreover Vocabulary (VC), AR and LN subtests were significantly correlated with the contents of conversation in social behavior. In addition, Symbol Search (SS) were significantly correlated with the physical domain of quality of life. These findings suggest that there is a strong association between each cognitive function and psychosocial function, regardless of the severity of psychopathology or demographic characteristics.

A study for development and validation of the computer-based working memory tasks for school-aged children

IntroductionWorking memory (WM) is the ability to retain and manipulate information during a short period of time. According to previous studies, children who have neurocognitive dysfunctions, such as ADHD and learning disorder were found to have a WM problem, which was associated with frontal lobe dysfunction, especially dysfunctions in dorsolateral prefrontal cortex.ObjectivesIn the present study, we developed the computer-based WM tasks for school-aged children, which help to provide a timely assessment of risk and preventive intervention for children with subclinical attention problems.AimsWe evaluated the construct and concurrent validity of newly developed WM tasks.MethodsA hundred and fourteen 8- to 10-year-old children were recruited. The newly developed, computer-based WM tasks consist of two domains:– auditory-verbal WM;– visual-spatial WM.We examined the construct validity of the tasks through examining the developmental trend of the WM abilities with age. To determine the concurrent validity of those tasks, we conducted correlation analyses between the participants’ scores and their scores on well-known measures of verbal and visual WM; Arithmetic and Letter-Number Sequencing subtest of intelligence scale (KEDI WISC), and Corsi block test.ResultsThere are marked linear increasing trends of the response accuracy with age. Further, there were high correlations between the scores of two WM tasks and the corresponding scores of standardized assessment tools.ConclusionsThis study showed promising evidence for the validity of computer-based tasks assessing WM, which might have the utility for school-aged children in research and clinical settings.Disclosure of interestThe authors have not supplied their declaration of competing interest.

Measuring Working Memory With Digit Span and the Letter-Number Sequencing Subtests From the WAIS-IV: Too Low Manipulation Load and Risk for Underestimating Modality Effects

The Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) is one of the most frequently used tests among psychologists. In the fourth edition of the test (WAIS-IV), the subtests Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing are expanded for better measurement of working memory (WM). However, it is not clear whether the new extended tasks contribute sufficient complexity to be sensitive measures of manipulation WM, nor do we know to what degree WM capacity differs between the visual and the auditory modality because the WAIS-IV only tests the auditory modality. Performance by a mixed sample of 226 patients referred for neuropsychological examination on the Digit Span and Letter-Number Sequencing subtests from the WAIS-IV and on Spatial Span from the Wechsler Memory Scale-Third Edition was analyzed in two confirmatory factor analyses to investigate whether a unitary WM model or divisions based on modality or level/complexity best fit the data. The modality model showed the best fit when analyzing summed scores for each task as well as scores for the longest span. The clinician is advised to apply tests with higher manipulation load and to consider testing visual span as well before drawing conclusions about impaired WM from the WAIS-IV.