Trail making test, part B as a measure of executive control: Validation using a set-switching paradigm
Trail making test, part B as a measure of executive control: Validation using a set-switching paradigm
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DOI：
10.1076/1380-3395(200008)22:4;1-0;ft518
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发表时间：
2000-01-01
影响因子：
2.2
通讯作者：
Frank, J
中科院分区：
文献类型：
--
作者：
Arbuthnott, K;Frank, J
最近的争论围绕着使用连线测试作为认知灵活性的测量，因为连线测试，部分B（TMT-B）也不同于部分A（TMT-A）的运动控制和感知复杂性的因素。本研究比较了在TMT和设置转换任务的性能，以测试的假设，即认知灵活性被捕获在TMT-B性能。集合转换任务具有较低的运动和知觉选择要求，因此提供了一个更清晰的执行功能指标。在这项研究中，参与者在一系列试验中对数字、字母或符号进行类别判断，并将连续相同任务试验的表现与任务转换试验进行比较。集合转换任务的结果显示了显著的转换成本，但仅限于任务交替的情况（例如，阿坝系列），表明任务设置抑制可能在这种效应中发挥作用。交替转换成本与TMT-B性能显著相关，尤其是与TMT-B与TMT-A的比值（B/A）。对于B/A比率> 3的参与者，交替开关的成本尤其大。这些结果提供了直接的证据表明，B/A比率的性能在高层管理团队提供了一个指标的执行功能。
Recent controversy surrounds the use of the Trail Making Test as a measure of cognitive flexibility, given that the Trail Making Test, Part B (TMT-B) also differs from Part A (TMT-A) in factors of motor control and perceptual complexity. The present study compared performance in the TMT and a set-switching task in order to test the assumption that cognitive flexibility is captured in TMT-B performance. Set-switching tasks have low motor and perceptual selection demands, and therefore provide a clearer index of executive function. In this study, participants made category judgments for digits, letters, or symbols across a series of trials, and performance for consecutive same-task trials was compared with task-switch trials. Results of the set-switching task indicated significant switch cost, but only for the situation of task alternation (e.g., an ABA series), suggesting that task-set inhibition may play a role in this effect. Alternating-switch cost was significantly correlated with TMT-B performance, especially with the TMT-B to TMT-A ratio (B/A). Cost for alternating switches was especially large for participants with B/A ratio > 3. These results provide direct evidence that the B/A ratio of performance in the TMT provides an index of executive function.