title: The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery: Validation, aging effects, and heritability across cognitive domains.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  The Computerized Neurocognitive Battery (CNB) enables efficient neurocognitive assessment. The authors aimed to (a) estimate validity and reliability of the battery's Dutch translation, (b) investigate effects of age across cognitive domains, and (c) estimate heritability of the CNB tests.
  
  
  METHODS
  A population-representative sample of 1,140 participants (aged 10-86), mainly twin-families, was tested on the CNB, providing measures of speed and accuracy in 14 cognitive domains. In a subsample (246 subjects aged 14-22), IQ data (Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Adults; WAIS) were available. Validity and reliability were assessed by Cronbach's alpha, comparisons of scores between Dutch and U.S. samples, and investigation of how a CNB-based common factor compared to a WAIS-based general factor of intelligence (g). Linear and nonlinear age dependencies covering the life span were modeled through regression. Heritability was estimated from twin data and from entire pedigree data.
  
  
  RESULTS
  Internal consistency of all tests was moderate to high (median = 0.86). Effects of gender, age, and education on cognitive performance closely resembled U.S.
  
  
  METHODS
  The CNB-based common factor was completely captured by the WAIS-based g. Some domains, like nonverbal reasoning accuracy, peaked in young adulthood and showed steady decline. Other domains, like language reasoning accuracy, peaked in middle adulthood and were spared decline. CNB-test heritabilities were moderate (median h2 = 31%). Heritability of the CNB common factor was 70%, similar to the WAIS-based g-factor.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  The CNB can be used to assess specific neurocognitive performance, as well as to obtain a reliable proxy of general intelligence. Effects of aging and heritability differed across cognitive domains.
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Suzanne C
authors.initials: SC
authors.lastname: Swagerman
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Eco J C
authors.identifier: 0000-0001-6022-2666
authors.initials: EJC
authors.lastname: de Geus
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Kees-Jan
authors.initials: KJ
authors.lastname: Kan
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Elsje
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-5860-5745
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: van Bergen
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Harold A
authors.initials: HA
authors.lastname: Nieuwboer
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Marinka M G
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-3859-3847
authors.initials: MMG
authors.lastname: Koenis
authors.affiliation: Brain Center Rudolf Magnus, Department of Psychiatry, University Medical Center Utrecht.
authors.forename: Hilleke E
authors.identifier: 0000-0002-2038-5281
authors.initials: HE
authors.lastname: Hulshoff Pol
authors.affiliation: Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Raquel E
authors.initials: RE
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: Brain Behavior Laboratory, Department of Psychiatry, Perelman School of Medicine, University of Pennsylvania.
authors.forename: Ruben C
authors.initials: RC
authors.lastname: Gur
authors.affiliation: Department of Biological Psychology, VU University Amsterdam.
authors.forename: Dorret I
authors.initials: DI
authors.lastname: Boomsma
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D000375:Aging / Q000523:psychology; D002648:Child; D003071:Cognition; D003201:Computers; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D007360:Intelligence; D007802:Language; D008297:Male; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D015203:Reproducibility of Results