The Tbilisi paper and pencil dual-task.
One function of the central executive component of the working memory model is the coordination of two simultaneous tasks (the dual-task method). The concept of a coordination function has proved effective in identifying brain damaged patients with severe behavioural problems and in discriminating the performance of patients with mild Alzheimer's disease from that of healthy elderly. A computerised version of the dual-task method was successfully used in previous laboratory studies but it is not suited to use in a practical, clinical setting. Thus a paper and pencil version of the dual-task method was devised. The present study was aimed at refining the paper and pencil dual-task method; investigating whether or not age per se affects performance; assessing its test-retest reliability and providing norms for the Georgian population. The new paper and pencil version of the dual-task was administered to 64 young and 64 middle-age and elderly participants. A new, modified, simpler version of the paper and pencil dual-task, the "Tbilisi paper and pencil motor task" was developed. This task has high test-retest reliability and correlates with the established computerised version of the task. No age or education effects were detected.
Inasaridze
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Tbilisi State Medical University, Memory Clinic, Tbilisi, Georgia.
Della Sala
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Logie
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D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D015140:Dementia, Vascular / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000503:physiopathology / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D010865:Pilot Projects; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis