Iowa gambling task: Administration effects in older adults

Abstract

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) assesses decision-making.ObjectiveThe objective of the present study was to investigate whether specific changes in administering the IGT can affect performance of older adults completing the task.MethodThree versions of the IGT were compared regarding the feedback on the amount of money won or lost over the course of the test. The first version (I) consisted of a replication of the original version (Bechara et al., 1994), which utilizes a computerized visual aid (green bar) that increases or decreases according to the gains or the losses. The second version (II), however, involved a non-computerized visual aid (cards) and, in the third version (III) the task did not include any visual aid at all. Ninety-seven older adults, divided into three groups, participated in this study. Group I received computerized cues (n=40), group II, non-computerized cues (n=17) and III was submitted to a version without any cues (n=40).ResultsThe participants without any cues achieved only a borderline performance, whereas for those with non-computerized cues, twice the number of participants showed attraction to risk in relation to those with aversion. The participants of the computerized version were homogeneously spread across the three performance levels (impaired, borderline and unimpaired).ConclusionsAspects of the complexity of the decision process as well as of the task used are proposed as possible theoretical explanations for the performance variation exhibited.

Iowa Gambling Task with non-clinical participants: effects of using real + virtual cards and additional trials

“…Published papers frequently cite Bechara et al (2000) when stating that IGT performance is equal when real or virtual cards are used (Bechara, 2007; Schneider et al, 2007; Buelow and Suhr, 2009). Close analysis of the paper by Bechara et al (2000) shows a different picture.…”

The Iowa Gambling Task (IGT) in Brazil: a systematic review

“…The psychometric properties of IGT and its administration standardization were analyzed in five Brazilian studies (14%). 3,24,27,31,39 Several studies 3,24,27 focused on changes in task administration, the majority of which -not surprisingly -found significant differences in performance results when comparing the changed task with the original IGT. In one study, 24 the authors varied the amount of monetary feedback given over the course of the task.…”

“…3,24,27,31,39 Several studies 3,24,27 focused on changes in task administration, the majority of which -not surprisingly -found significant differences in performance results when comparing the changed task with the original IGT. In one study, 24 the authors varied the amount of monetary feedback given over the course of the task. In another, 27 visual feedback cues were altered: even though there were no differences in the mean number of cards selected from each deck between the changed and the original IGT, there were significant differences in risk aversion, with alterations in visual cues resulting in better sensibility to loss frequency and a less risky behavior than that seen in the original IGT (F[5.85] = 1, p = 0.02).…”

A tomada de decisão em adultos jovens e em adultos idosos: um estudo comparativo

“…Para tal, um grupo de adultos jovens teve seu desempenho na IGT comparado com indivíduos idosos, sendo os resultados compreendidos através de uma meticulosa análise interpretativa, a partir de sugestões contidas no manual do instrumento, bem como ressaltadas em estudos anteriormente conduzidos. Utilizou-se, ainda, uma nova versão adaptada da IGT, desenvolvida a partir da versão anteriormente adaptada (Schneider & Parente, 2006), que evidenciava diferenças importantes com relação à original, podendo estas estar influenciando o desempenho dos indivíduos (Schneider, Parente, Wagner, & Denburg , 2007).…”