A Verbal Card Sorting Task to Measure Executive Functions.

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Psychology

Background:

• The Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) is a standard measure of nonverbal executive functions (EFs).
• Assessing verbal cognitive abilities is crucial for individuals with potential language deficits, such as those with aphasia.
• Existing nonverbal tests may not fully capture executive function impairments in populations with co-occurring linguistic challenges.

Purpose of the Study:

• To develop a verbal card sorting task (VCST) as a complementary measure to the WCST.
• To evaluate the utility of the VCST in assessing executive function deficits in individuals with mild traumatic brain injury (mTBI).
• To compare performance on the VCST and a computerized WCST (BCST) in an mTBI population.

Main Methods:

• The VCST was created by modifying the computerized Berg Card Sorting Task (BCST).
• Performance on the VCST and BCST was compared between 35 individuals with mTBI and 33 matched controls.
• The study focused on individuals with mTBI due to their known EF impairments and intact language abilities.

Main Results:

• The mTBI group exhibited impaired shifting but unimpaired inhibition and sustained attention on both the VCST and BCST.
• Component loadings for both tasks were similar, indicating comparable underlying cognitive processes.
• Inhibition and shifting scores showed a positive correlation across the VCST and BCST.

Conclusions:

• The verbal card sorting task (VCST) shows potential as a valuable tool for measuring verbal executive function deficits.
• The findings provide insights into the specific executive function impairments, particularly in shifting, experienced by individuals with mTBI.
• The VCST can complement existing nonverbal measures like the WCST for a more comprehensive assessment of executive functions.