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The sustained attention to response task: Validation of a non-numerical parallel form
Armien Lanssens1, Nora Tuts1, Lies Welkenhuyzen1,2
1Department of Brain and Cognition, Leuven Brain Institute, KU Leuven, Leuven, Belgium.
Applied Neuropsychology. Adult
|May 21, 2023
Summary
A new Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) using gratings shows promise for assessing attention in brain injury patients. This visual task may offer a viable alternative to traditional digit-based SARTs for evaluating sustained attention deficits.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Cognitive Psychology
- Rehabilitation Science
Background:
- Sustained attention is crucial for daily activities, but deficits are common after acquired brain injury (ABI).
- The Sustained Attention to Response Task (SART) is a standard tool for assessing sustained attention.
- Traditional SARTs using digits may be challenging for ABI patients due to potential alphanumerical processing deficits.
Purpose of the Study:
- To evaluate the efficacy of a modified SART using sinusoidal gratings instead of digits for assessing sustained attention.
- To compare the performance on the Gratings SART with the traditional Digits SART in healthy individuals and ABI patients.
Main Methods:
- Administered both Gratings SART and Digits SART (random and fixed sequences) to 48 healthy participants.
- Administered both SART variants to 11 ABI patients as a proof of concept.
- Analyzed performance differences and correlations between the two SART versions.
Main Results:
- Healthy participants showed moderate differences and correlations between Gratings SART and Digits SART performance.
- Both SART variants were sensitive to cognitive impairments in ABI patients.
- No significant correlation was found between SART performance and self-reported sustained attention.
Conclusions:
- The Gratings SART is a promising tool for assessing sustained attention in clinical settings, particularly for individuals with ABI.
- Further research is needed to establish the predictive validity of the Gratings SART for real-world sustained attention.
- The Gratings SART offers a potential alternative for evaluating attention deficits when alphanumerical processing is compromised.
