Hayling and stroop tests tap dissociable deficits and network-level neural correlates

Area of Science:

• Neuroscience
• Cognitive Psychology
• Clinical Neurology

Background:

• Executive function deficits, particularly initiation and inhibition, are common after stroke.
• Existing executive function screens may vary in their effectiveness for detecting these specific post-stroke deficits.
• The comparative utility of the Stroop and Hayling tests for assessing post-stroke executive function remains unclear.

Purpose of the Study:

• To compare the effectiveness of the Stroop and Hayling tests in detecting post-stroke deficits in initiation and inhibition.
• To determine if the Stroop and Hayling tests measure the same underlying cognitive functions.
• To identify the neural correlates associated with deficits detected by each task.

Main Methods:

• Sixty-six stroke survivors and 70 healthy controls completed the Stroop and Hayling tests.
• Performance metrics for initiation and inhibition were analyzed across both tests.
• Neural correlates were investigated using network-level analyses.

Main Results:

• Stroke patients showed distinct performance differences on analogous Stroop and Hayling Test metrics.
• The Stroop test demonstrated high specificity but low sensitivity compared to the Hayling Test.
• There was minimal overlap in the neural correlates of the Stroop and Hayling tests, indicating functional and anatomical dissociation.

Conclusions:

• The Stroop and Hayling tests assess behaviorally and anatomically dissociable functions.
• The Hayling Test offers superior sensitivity and detail for quantifying post-stroke initiation and inhibition deficits.
• The Hayling Test is a valuable tool for assessing executive function impairments in stroke survivors.