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Trait impulsivity predicts D-KEFS tower test performance in university students
Michael Lyvers1, Vanessa Basch, Helen Duff
1a School of Psychology , Bond University , Gold Coast , Queensland , Australia.
Applied Neuropsychology. Adult
|June 14, 2014
Summary
Self-reported impulsiveness, measured by the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11), is linked to lower executive function performance on the Tower Test in university students. This suggests inhibition is crucial for cognitive tasks.
Area of Science:
- Neuropsychology
- Cognitive Psychology
- Behavioral Neuroscience
Background:
- Trait impulsiveness is a significant factor influencing cognitive performance.
- Executive functions, such as inhibition and planning, are critical for complex task completion.
- Previous research suggests a link between impulsivity and executive dysfunction, particularly in young adults.
Purpose of the Study:
- To investigate the relationship between self-reported trait impulsiveness and executive function performance.
- To examine the predictive power of the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) on the Tower Test.
- To explore the role of inhibition in executive task performance within a university student sample.
Main Methods:
- A sample of 70 university undergraduate students (aged 18-24) completed the Barratt Impulsiveness Scale (BIS-11) and the Frontal Systems Behavior Scale (FrSBe).
- Participants performed the Tower Test from the Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System.
- Hierarchical linear regression analysis was used to assess the relationship between BIS-11 scores and Tower Test performance, controlling for covariates.
Main Results:
- Self-reported impulsiveness (BIS-11 scores) significantly predicted poorer performance on the Tower Test Achievement scores (β = -.44, p < .01), even after controlling for gender, alcohol consumption, and FrSBe scores.
- Elevated scores on both BIS-11 and FrSBe were associated with risky drinking behaviors in the sample, consistent with prior research.
- Only BIS-11 scores, not FrSBe scores, were found to predict Tower Test performance.
Conclusions:
- Self-reported impulsiveness is associated with impaired executive cognitive performance in university students, a population generally expected to have high cognitive functioning.
- The findings underscore the importance of inhibition as a core component of executive function task performance.
- While impulsivity measures correlate with risky behaviors, BIS-11 specifically demonstrates predictive validity for executive function deficits on the Tower Test.
