The Effect of Culture on Two Information-Processing Speed Tests.
The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT) has been proposed to replace the Paced Auditory Serial Addition Test-3 (PASAT-3) in the Multiple Sclerosis Functional Composite because it has the same validity but easy and shorter administration. However, among the two tests, the one that is most affected by culture is still unknown. The purpose of this study was to compare the performance of Argentinian and North American populations on the SDMT and PASAT-3. The SDMT and PASAT-3 were administered to 137 healthy volunteers from Buffalo, NY, and 137 healthy participants from Buenos Aires, Argentina. Participants were matched by gender, age (±2), and education (±1). Significant differences were found on the SDMT but not on the PASAT-3. Significant and low correlations were found between the tests and years of education. The SDMT is more affected by culture than is the PASAT-3. Possible interpretations of this result are presented.
a Multiple Sclerosis Clinic, J. M. Ramos Mejía Hospital , Buenos Aires , Argentina.
Evangelina Valeria
EV
Cores
Sandra
S
Vanotti
Bárbara
B
Eizaguirre
Leticia
L
Fiorentini
Orlando
O
Garcea
Ralph H B
RH
Benedict
Fernando
F
Cáceres
D000328:Adult; D001118:Argentina; D003431:Cross-Cultural Comparison; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008606:Mental Processes / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D009656:North America; D013223:Statistics as Topic; D018709:Statistics, Nonparametric
cross-cultural; information processing; neuropsychology