Does familiarity with computers affect computerized neuropsychological test performance?
The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-reported computer familiarity is related to performance on computerized neurocognitive testing. Participants were 130 healthy adults who self-reported whether their computer use was "some" (n = 65) or "frequent" (n = 65). The two groups were individually matched on age, education, sex, and race. All completed the CNS Vital Signs (Gualtieri & Johnson, 2006b) computerized neurocognitive battery. There were significant differences on 6 of the 23 scores, including scores derived from the Symbol-Digit Coding Test, Stroop Test, and the Shifting Attention Test. The two groups were also significantly different on the Psychomotor Speed (Cohen's d = 0.37), Reaction Time (d = 0.68), Complex Attention (d = 0.40), and Cognitive Flexibility (d = 0.64) domain scores. People with "frequent" computer use performed better than people with "some" computer use on some tests requiring rapid visual scanning and keyboard work.
Iverson
Grant L
GL
Department of Psychiatry, University of British Columbia, Vancouver, BC, Canada. giverson@interchange.ubc.ca
Brooks
Brian L
BL
Ashton
V Lynn
VL
Johnson
Lynda G
LG
Gualtieri
C Thomas
CT
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000367:Age Factors; D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D003071:Cognition / Q000502:physiology*; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009716:Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted; D011597:Psychomotor Performance; D021641:Recognition, Psychology / Q000502:physiology*; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric; D014705:Verbal Behavior; D055815:Young Adult