Normative data for executive function tests in an Ecuadorian Waranka minority population.

Area of Science:

• Neuropsychology
• Developmental Psychology
• Cross-cultural Psychology

Background:

• Executive functions are critical for cognitive development and daily functioning.
• Normative data (ND) are essential for accurate interpretation of neuropsychological test scores.
• Existing ND often do not represent diverse minority populations, potentially leading to misinterpretations.

Purpose of the Study:

• To establish normative data (ND) for key executive functions tests in the Waranka minority population of Ecuador.
• To investigate the influence of demographic factors (age, sex, education, bilingualism) on executive functions within this population.
• To compare the performance of the Waranka sample using indigenous versus non-indigenous ND.

Main Methods:

• Four hundred Waranka children and adolescents (aged 6-17) completed the Symbol-Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Trail-Making Test (TMT), Modified-Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (M-WCST), and Stroop Test.
• Multiple linear regressions were employed to generate ND, incorporating age, age squared, parent education, sex, and bilingualism as predictors.
• Z-scores were calculated using both the newly generated indigenous ND and existing non-indigenous norms for comparison.

Main Results:

• Executive function performance was significantly influenced by age, sex, parental education, and bilingualism in the Waranka sample.
• Interactions between age and parental education, and age and bilingualism, were significant for several tests (SDMT, TMT, Stroop, M-WCST).
• Z-scores derived from non-indigenous norms were significantly lower for the Waranka sample compared to those derived from indigenous ND.

Conclusions:

• Developing culturally specific normative data is essential for accurate neuropsychological assessment in minority populations.
• The Waranka sample demonstrated poorer performance when assessed using non-indigenous norms, underscoring the limitations of generalized data.
• These findings highlight the critical need for inclusive and representative normative data in cognitive and executive function research.