Response Time Consistency Is an Indicator of Executive Control Rather than Global Cognitive Ability

Vasquez, Brandon P.; Binns, Malcolm A.; Anderson, Nicole

doi:10.1017/s1355617717001266

Cited by 20 publications

(9 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…It has previously been proposed that the right tail of the response time distribution is an integral contributor to RT ISD, and through ex-Gaussian analysis has been associated with neuropsychological measures of executive functioning (Vasquez et al, 2016, 2018). Our findings suggest that reductions in RT ISD for trained responses are due to changes in the leading edge and right tail of the distribution, estimated by μ and τ respectively—effectively tightening the distributional range.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…Research has suggested that extremely slow responses within the response distribution are largely responsible for the observed differences in typical measures of RT IIV (Vasquez, Binns, & Anderson, 2018; Vasquez et al, 2016; West et al, 2002; Williams et al, 2005). Given that RT data are usually not normally distributed, typical measures of RT IIV indicating spread (e.g., standard deviation) include slow responses in the right tail.…”

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confidence: 99%

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Slow and steady: Training induced improvements to response time consistency are due to overall slowing and minimized extremely slow responses.

Vasquez

Anderson

2018

Psychology and Aging

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Previous studies on response time intraindividual variability (RT IIV) have focused on differences between groups, ignoring the potential for modification. The current study provides a detailed analysis of RT IIV training effects across three age groups. Healthy adults (40 young [aged 18 -30], 40 young-old [aged 65-74], and 41 old-old [aged 75-85]) were assigned to feedback or no feedback (standard) conditions during a touch-screen feature integration task. In the feedback condition, participants were shown their performance on the previous block of trials and encouraged to improve going forward. Transfer was assessed by comparing pre-and posttraining performance on a 4-choice RT task. Data were analyzed with respect to RT IIV, ex-Gaussian distribution fitting, and the diffusion model of RT decision making. Significant feedback-related reductions were observed in Target RT IIV and the ex-Gaussian parameter , accompanied by an increase in . There was no significant change in , and no evidence of transfer to the 4-choice RT task. The diffusion model analysis indicated that feedback training promoted a reduction in response threshold for the young and young-old groups, as well as a modulation of drift rate throughout training in the young group. The findings indicate that training to improve consistency induces overall slowing, but also reduces the frequency of extremely slow responses that have been linked to brief attention lapses. The results provide evidence that RT consistency is malleable, but improvements are not necessarily transferable.

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Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

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confidence: 99%

Slow and steady: Training induced improvements to response time consistency are due to overall slowing and minimized extremely slow responses.

Vasquez

Anderson

2018

Psychology and Aging

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“…Intraindividual variability can be observed at multiple time scales [1], and yet, the majority of literature has focused on trial-to-trial response variability within a single time point [11,[22][23][24][25]. However, there is some evidence to suggest that intraindividual variability within and across days is positively correlated, signaling potentially similar processes, although the extent of this generalization is unclear [26].…”

Section: Intraindividual Variability In Cognitionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition in Context: Understanding the Everyday Predictors of Cognitive Performance in a New Era of Measurement (Preprint)

Weizenbaum¹,

Torous²,

Fulford³

2019

Preprint

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UNSTRUCTURED A body of research suggests that within-person variability in cognitive performance may be a sensitive indicator of impairment, compared to scores obtained at one point in time. In this review, we describe the manifestation of within-person variability in healthy populations and its predictive power in clinical populations. To better understand potential factors that give rise to this variability, we explore how moderators at both the internal (mood, motivation) and external/contextual (time of day, surrounding noise, activity) levels affect cognitive performance, and we may capitalize on advancements in mobile technology to capture such information. Smartphone-based assessment may serve as an optimal method for capturing individual cognitive variability in real-world contexts. We propose that through the use of mobile assessment we have the opportunity to combine multiple sources of contextual and cognitive data to provide individualized digital signatures that could improve prediction of meaningful clinical outcomes.

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“…Intraindividual variability can be observed at multiple time scales [ 1 ], and yet, the majority of literature has focused on trial-to-trial response variability within a single time point [ 11 , 22 - 25 ]. However, there is some evidence to suggest that intraindividual variability within and across days is positively correlated, signaling potentially similar processes, although the extent of this generalization is unclear [ 26 ].…”

Section: Introductionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Cognition in Context: Understanding the Everyday Predictors of Cognitive Performance in a New Era of Measurement

Weizenbaum¹,

Torous²,

Fulford³

2020

JMIR Mhealth Uhealth

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Background Research suggests that variability in attention and working memory scores, as seen across time points, may be a sensitive indicator of impairment compared with a singular score at one point in time. Given that fluctuation in cognitive performance is a meaningful metric of real-world function and trajectory, it is valuable to understand the internal state-based and environmental factors that could be driving these fluctuations in performance. Objective In this viewpoint, we argue for the use of repeated mobile assessment as a way to better understand how context shapes moment-to-moment cognitive performance. To elucidate potential factors that give rise to intraindividual variability, we highlight existing literature that has linked both internal and external modifying variables to a number of cognitive domains. We identify ways in which these variables could be measured using mobile assessment to capture them in ecologically meaningful settings (ie, in daily life). Finally, we describe a number of studies that have already begun to use mobile assessment to measure changes in real time cognitive performance in people’s daily environments and the ways in which this burgeoning methodology may continue to advance the field. Methods This paper describes selected literature on contextual factors that examined how experimentally induced or self-reported contextual variables (ie, affect, motivation, time of day, environmental noise, physical activity, and social activity) related to tests of cognitive performance. We also selected papers that used mobile assessment of cognition; these papers were chosen for their use of high-frequency time-series measurement of cognition using a mobile device. Results Upon review of the relevant literature, it is evident that contextual factors have the potential to meaningfully impact cognitive performance when measured in laboratory and daily life environments. Although this research has shed light on the question of what gives rise to real-life variability in cognitive function (eg, affect and activity), many of the studies were limited by traditional methods of data collection (eg, involving retrospective recall). Furthermore, cognition has often been measured in one domain or in one age group, which does not allow us to extrapolate results to other cognitive domains and across the life span. On the basis of the literature reviewed, mobile assessment of cognition shows high levels of feasibility and validity and could be a useful method for capturing individual cognitive variability in real-world contexts via passive and active measures. Conclusions We propose that, through the use of mobile assessment, there is an opportunity to combine multiple sources of contextual and cognitive data. These data have the potential to provide individualized digital signatures that could improve diagnostic precision and lead to meaningful clinical outcomes in a wide range of psychiatric and neurological disorders.

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Response Time Consistency Is an Indicator of Executive Control Rather than Global Cognitive Ability

Cited by 20 publications

References 35 publications

Slow and steady: Training induced improvements to response time consistency are due to overall slowing and minimized extremely slow responses.

Slow and steady: Training induced improvements to response time consistency are due to overall slowing and minimized extremely slow responses.

Cognition in Context: Understanding the Everyday Predictors of Cognitive Performance in a New Era of Measurement (Preprint)

Cognition in Context: Understanding the Everyday Predictors of Cognitive Performance in a New Era of Measurement

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