title: Characterizing Information Processing With a Mobile Device: Measurement of Simple and Choice Reaction Time.
abstract: Information processing is typically evaluated using simple reaction time (SRT) and choice reaction time (CRT) paradigms in which a specific response is initiated following a given stimulus. The measurement of reaction time (RT) has evolved from monitoring the timing of mechanical switches to computerized paradigms. The proliferation of mobile devices with touch screens makes them a natural next technological approach to assess information processing. The aims of this study were to determine the validity and reliability of using of a mobile device (Apple iPad or iTouch) to accurately measure RT. Sixty healthy young adults completed SRT and CRT tasks using a traditional test platform and mobile platforms on two occasions. The SRT was similar across test modality: 300, 287, and 280 milliseconds (ms) for the traditional, iPad, and iTouch, respectively. The CRT was similar within mobile devices, though slightly faster on the traditional: 359, 408, and 384 ms for traditional, iPad, and iTouch, respectively. Intraclass correlation coefficients ranged from 0.79 to 0.85 for SRT and from 0.75 to 0.83 for CRT. The similarity and reliability of SRT across platforms and consistency of SRT and CRT across test conditions indicate that mobile devices provide the next generation of assessment platforms for information processing.
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Burke
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: Susan
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Linder
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: Joshua
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Hirsch
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: Tanujit
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Dey
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: Daniel
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Kana
authors.affiliation: 2 Arizona State University, Phoenix, AZ, USA.
authors.forename: Shannon
authors.initials: S
authors.lastname: Ringenbach
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: David
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Schindler
authors.affiliation: 1 Cleveland Clinic, Cleveland OH, USA.
authors.forename: Jay
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: Alberts
mesh_terms: D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D002755:Choice Behavior; D003071:Cognition; D034201:Computers, Handheld; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D000073216:Mental Status and Dementia Tests; D063731:Mobile Applications; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011930:Reaction Time; D015203:Reproducibility of Results; D055815:Young Adult
keywords: cognitive assessment; information processing; mobile technology; reaction time