Continuous Performance Tests

Continuous performance tasks, or continuous performance tests (CPTs), are neuropsychological measures designed to assess the complex area of attention. CPTs are designed to assess sustained attention, or a person’s ability to maintain focus on a particular task or stimulus. They also assess one’s ability to inhibit inappropriate responses (i.e., impulsivity). Difficulties with sustained attention and impulsivity can be a result of brain damage and are core deficits in psychiatric conditions such as attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and schizophrenia. A growing body of research has indicated the utility of CPTs to detect neurological conditions, and as a result, CPTs are increasingly being used as a clinical tool to assess conditions such as ADHD. This entry examines the measurement of executive function and why CPTs are valuable.

Measuring Executive ...

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