Emotional impact on trail making test performance.
This study assessed the effect of emotional factors on Trail Making Test Part B performance for a sample of 105 neuropsychological referrals for whom there was no neurodiagnostic evidence of brain damage. Trails B scores declined in relation to elevated MMPI scores on Scales 6, 7, and 8, though only nine patients performed within the impaired range. The results suggest that (a) Trails B performance is resilient to a variety of emotional influences, (b) psychotic symptoms and severe anxiety impede Trails B performance, though rarely to the extent caused by brain damage, and (c) the MMPI provides objective criteria that help rule out emotional effects on Trails B performance.
Gass
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CS
Veterans Administration Hospital, Miami, Florida.
Daniel
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SK
D000328:Adult; D001288:Attention; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology; D004644:Emotions; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008950:MMPI; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D011930:Reaction Time