title: AULA virtual reality test as an attention measure: convergent validity with Conners' Continuous Performance Test.
abstract: The majority of neuropsychological tests used to evaluate attention processes in children lack ecological validity. The AULA Nesplora (AULA) is a continuous performance test, developed in a virtual setting, very similar to a school classroom. The aim of the present study is to analyze the convergent validity between the AULA and the Continuous Performance Test (CPT) of Conners. The AULA and CPT were administered correlatively to 57 children, aged 6-16 years (26.3% female) with average cognitive ability (IQ mean = 100.56, SD = 10.38) who had a diagnosis of attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) according to DSM-IV-TR criteria. Spearman correlations analyses were conducted among the different variables. Significant correlations were observed between both tests in all the analyzed variables (omissions, commissions, reaction time, and variability of reaction time), including for those measures of the AULA based on different sensorial modalities, presentation of distractors, and task paradigms. Hence, convergent validity between both tests was confirmed. Moreover, the AULA showed differences by gender and correlation to Perceptual Reasoning and Working Memory indexes of the WISC-IV, supporting the relevance of IQ measures in the understanding of cognitive performance in ADHD. In addition, the AULA (but not Conners' CPT) was able to differentiate between ADHD children with and without pharmacological treatment for a wide range of measures related to inattention, impulsivity, processing speed, motor activity, and quality of attention focus. Additional measures and advantages of the AULA versus Conners' CPT are discussed.
authors: a Nesplora Technology & Behavior, Donostia-San Sebastian , Spain.
authors: Unai
authors: U
authors: Díaz-Orueta
authors: Cristina
authors: C
authors: Garcia-López
authors: Nerea
authors: N
authors: Crespo-Eguílaz
authors: Rocío
authors: R
authors: Sánchez-Carpintero
authors: Gema
authors: G
authors: Climent
authors: Juan
authors: J
authors: Narbona
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001289:Attention Deficit Disorder with Hyperactivity / Q000175:diagnosis* / Q000523:psychology*; D002648:Child; D039721:Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007175:Impulsive Behavior; D008297:Male; D001523:Mental Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards* / Q000706:statistics & numerical data; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D011594:Psychometrics; D011930:Reaction Time / Q000502:physiology; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D013647:Task Performance and Analysis
keywords: ADHD; AULA; Attention; Continuous performance test; Virtual reality