Symbol–digit substitution and individual differences in visual search ability

Gilmore, Grover C.; Royer, Fred L.; Gruhn, Joseph J.; Esson, Michael J

doi:10.1016/j.intell.2003.07.002

Cited by 18 publications

(29 citation statements)

References 35 publications

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“…In this study, the computerized version of the Digit Symbol Substitution Tests (DSST) [ 36 , 37 ] was adapted for the scanning procedure to test psychomotor speed, following a protocol described previously [ 38 , 39 ]. The paradigm tests motor speed, response selection [ 40 ], shifting of attention [ 41 ], and perceptual speed [ 42 , 43 ]. Psychomotor speed is used to actively maintain and manipulate information over a brief period of time and to allocate attentional resources among competing subtasks [ 44 , 45 ].…”

Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Activation and Psychomotor Speed in Middle-Aged Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Relationships with Hyperglycemia and Brain Small Vessel Disease

Hwang

Tudorascu

Nunley

et al. 2016

Journal of Diabetes Research

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Slower psychomotor speed is very common in patients with type 1 diabetes mellitus (T1D), but the underlying mechanisms are not clear. We propose that hyperglycemia is associated with slower psychomotor speed via disruption of brain activation. Eighty-five adults (48% women, mean age: 49.0 years, mean duration: 40.8) with childhood onset T1D were recruited for this cross-sectional study. Median response time in seconds (longer = worse performance) and brain activation were measured while performing a psychomotor speed task. Exposure to hyperglycemia, measured as glycosylated hemoglobin A1c, was associated with longer response time and with higher activation in the inferior frontal gyrus and primary sensorimotor and dorsal cingulate cortex. Higher activation in inferior frontal gyrus, primary sensorimotor cortex, thalamus, and cuneus was related to longer response times; in contrast, higher activation in the superior parietal lobe was associated with shorter response times. Associations were independent of small vessel disease in the brain or other organs. In this group of middle-aged adults with T1D, the pathway linking chronic hyperglycemia with slower processing speed appears to include increased brain activation, but not small vessel disease. Activation in the superior parietal lobe may compensate for dysregulation in brain activation in the presence of hyperglycemia.

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Section: Methodsmentioning

confidence: 99%

Brain Activation and Psychomotor Speed in Middle-Aged Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Relationships with Hyperglycemia and Brain Small Vessel Disease

Hwang

Tudorascu

Nunley

et al. 2016

Journal of Diabetes Research

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“…The reasons for the larger distraction effect on SDST are not clear, but may be related to its greater demands on visual search, working memory, or reference memory (Gilmore, Royer, Gruhn, & Esson, 2004).…”

Section: Resultsmentioning

confidence: 99%

“…This brief report is only one step in understanding the factors that influence group differences on tests of processing speed (see discussions by Ecksenberger, 1973;Hertzog & Bleckley, 2001). We have experiments underway to better understand how information load (e.g., string length) may interact with distractibility to influence both mean RT and variability (see also Faust et al, 1999;Gilmore et al, 2004). Future studies including groups (e.g., children, people with low working memory spans) with intact sensory function but who are thought to have deficits in both inhibition and speed will be important for understanding the size and generality of the distraction effect on speed tests.…”

Section: Discussionmentioning

confidence: 99%

Distraction as a determinant of processing speed

Lustig

Hasher

Tonev

2006

Psychonomic Bulletin & Review

111

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Processing speed is often described as a fundamental resource determining individual (e.g., I.Q.) and group (e.g., developmental) differences in cognition. However, most tests that measure speed present many items on a single page. Because many groups with slowed responding are also distractible, we compared younger and older adults on high-(i.e., standard) versus low-distraction versions of two classic speed tasks. Reducing distraction improved the performance of older adults while having little or no effect on younger adults, suggesting that the ability to limit attentional access to taskrelevant information can affect performance on tests designed to measure processing speed. Distraction and Processing SpeedThe idea that "faster is better" is powerful in cars, computing, and cognitive psychology. Group differences, especially age differences, are often ascribed to the better-performing group's faster processing. We report two studies that assessed the contribution of an attentionalperceptual variable, visual distraction, in determining age differences in classic speed tasks.Many standard speed tests use items that are individually simple, but fit many such items onto a single page, resulting in a cluttered, potentially distracting display. Many groups thought to have deficits in processing speed also have difficulties regulating attention, and thus might be especially vulnerable to distraction. These groups include children, older adults, poor readers, and young adults who score less well on intelligence tests (e.g.,

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“…Correct responses were recorded. The DSST has high test-retest reliability and high discriminant validity between people with different levels of short-term memory and search ability (Gilmore, Royer, Gruhn, & Esson, 2004).…”

Section: Cognitive Visuomotor Tasksmentioning

confidence: 99%

Let them sleep: The effects of a scheduled nap during the night shift on sleepiness and cognition in hospital nurses

Zion

Shochat

2019

Journal of Advanced Nursing

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Aims The aim of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a scheduled 30‐min nap and its interaction with individual factors on sleepiness and cognition during an 8‐hr night shift. Design This prospective, within‐subjects study conducted between 2011–2014 compared sleepiness and cognition with/without a nap during the night shift, in 109 female nurses, tested on two nights with and two nights without a nap in counterbalanced order. Methods Nurses completed the Munich ChronoType Questionnaire for Shiftwork, Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index and Pre‐Sleep Arousal Scale at study onset. They reported sleepiness hourly and performed the Digit Symbol Substitution and the Letter Cancellation Tasks at 3:00 and 7:00 a.m. They took a nap at 4:00 a.m. on nap nights and worked as usual on no‐nap nights. Sleep–wake patterns were monitored using actigraphs 24 hr before and during the shift. Caffeine consumption, workload and adverse events were reported. To assess the effectiveness of a scheduled nap, mixed‐models and repeated measures analyses of variance were used. Results Lower levels of sleepiness were found at 5:00, 6:00 and 7:00 a.m. on nap versus no‐nap nights. Increments in performance between 3:00–7:00 a.m. were significantly greater on nap versus no‐nap nights for Digit Symbol Substitution Task correct responses and Letter Cancellation Task capacity. No interactions between the nap and any of the individual factors emerged. Conclusion A scheduled nap provides an effective countermeasure against the negative consequences of night‐time shift work in female nurses above and beyond interpersonal differences. Impact Changes in attitude and policy are required to implement this beneficial and cost‐effective strategy. Trial registration number: ACTRN12618001857291.

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Symbol–digit substitution and individual differences in visual search ability

Cited by 18 publications

References 35 publications

Brain Activation and Psychomotor Speed in Middle-Aged Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Relationships with Hyperglycemia and Brain Small Vessel Disease

Brain Activation and Psychomotor Speed in Middle-Aged Patients with Type 1 Diabetes: Relationships with Hyperglycemia and Brain Small Vessel Disease

Distraction as a determinant of processing speed

Let them sleep: The effects of a scheduled nap during the night shift on sleepiness and cognition in hospital nurses

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