The Stroop Color and Word Test

Abstract

The Stroop Color and Word Test (SCWT) is a neuropsychological test extensively used to assess the ability to inhibit cognitive interference that occurs when the processing of a specific stimulus feature impedes the simultaneous processing of a second stimulus attribute, well-known as the Stroop Effect. The aim of the present work is to verify the theoretical adequacy of the various scoring methods used to measure the Stroop effect. We present a systematic review of studies that have provided normative data for the SCWT. We referred to both electronic databases (i.e., PubMed, Scopus, Google Scholar) and citations. Our findings show that while several scoring methods have been reported in literature, none of the reviewed methods enables us to fully assess the Stroop effect. Furthermore, we discuss several normative scoring methods from the Italian panorama as reported in literature. We claim for an alternative scoring method which takes into consideration both speed and accuracy of the response. Finally, we underline the importance of assessing the performance in all Stroop Test conditions (word reading, color naming, named color-word).

Effectiveness of executive function training on mental set shifting, working memory and inhibition in healthy older adults: A double‐blind randomized controlled trials

“…Finally, in the third phase, the participants identified the colours of words that were presented in a colour contradictory to their meaning. For example, in one iteration, the word “red” was written in green and the participants were required to identify the colour of the word (green) and ignore its meaning (red), while the researchers documented the colour‐word‐time and the colour‐word‐correct response (Scarpina & Tagini, ; Stroop, ). The SCWT have good reliability ( r > .80) and correlated with other standardized measures of executive function (Graf, Uttl, & Tuokko, ; Homack & Riccio, ; Sacks, Clark, Pols, & Geffen, ; Sisco, Slonena, Okun, Bowers, & Price, ).…”

BDNF increases associated with constant troponin T levels and may protect against poor cognitive interference control: The SABPA prospective study

“…The participants had to verbally identify the colour (ink colour) of a given word and not to read the colour represented by the word, within 1 minute. The more automated task (reading the colour represented by the word) interferes with the performance of the less automated task (naming the ink colour), and participants are required to inhibit this interference . In order to increase pressure or tension, the participants were encouraged to progress as fast as possible.…”

“…The integrity of these networks is crucial to maintain executive cognitive functioning, as processes related to interference control depend on the anterior cingulate and dorsolateral prefrontal areas . The STROOP‐color‐word conflict test (STROOP‐CWT) was shown to be a valid test to assess cognitive interference or executive cognitive functioning . During exposure to the STROOP‐CWT, the presentation of a word stimulus and a colour stimulus simultaneously causes interference when the processing of one stimulus interferes with the simultaneous processing of the second stimulus .…”

“…The STROOP‐color‐word conflict test (STROOP‐CWT) was shown to be a valid test to assess cognitive interference or executive cognitive functioning . During exposure to the STROOP‐CWT, the presentation of a word stimulus and a colour stimulus simultaneously causes interference when the processing of one stimulus interferes with the simultaneous processing of the second stimulus . Giacobbo et al (2016) suggested that higher levels of BDNF were optimal for response inhibition capacity assessed by the STROOP‐CWT …”

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“…This is understood to test the subject's ability to inhibit the responses triggered by the meaning of the word in the prompt. [27].…”