TITLE:
The Effects of Task Order Administration on Test Scores from the Trail Making Test: Near-Infrared Spectroscopy Investigations
AUTHORS:
Chie Takeda, Masako Notoya, Nobuyuki Sunahara
KEYWORDS:
Near-Infrared Spectroscopy, Prefrontal Cortex, Trail Making Test, Cognitive Function, Healthy Subjects
JOURNAL NAME:
World Journal of Neuroscience,
Vol.10 No.1,
February
12,
2020
ABSTRACT: This research examines the effects of task administration on Trail Making Test performance. The TMT consists of two parts, TMT Part A and TMT Part B. Generally, it has been believed that the order the two parts are completed does not influence test results; however, there is one previous study that has suggested that the order is indeed an influential factor on test scores. To measure frontal lobe function, the present study used near-infrared spectroscopy to measure changes in oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) in 48 young, healthy Japanese subjects as they completed Parts A and B. We subtracted the change in oxy-Hb while completing Part A from that while completing Part B (B-A Oxy-Hb) for a comparison to facilitate an investigation of how, or if, the order in which the TMT is taken influences test success. We found that when Part A was completed first, there were only small changes in the B-A oxy-Hb, but when Part B was completed first, there were larger changes. This study indicates that the order the tests are completed in may influence outcomes, thus assessments using the TMT must follow a consistent task order.