Open AccessThe role of attention in Wisconsin card sorting test performance
Author(s) -
Kevin W. Greve
Publication year - 1996
Publication title -
archives of clinical neuropsychology
Language(s) - English
Resource type - Journals
SCImago Journal Rank - 0.909
H-Index - 98
eISSN - 1873-5843
pISSN - 0887-6177
DOI - 10.1016/0887-6177(95)00023-2
Subject(s) - wisconsin card sorting test , perseveration , psychology , cognitive psychology , set (abstract data type) , test (biology) , factor (programming language) , attentional control , sorting , card sorting , developmental psychology , cognition , neuropsychology , neuroscience , computer science , paleontology , management , economics , biology , programming language , task (project management)
The present study sought to test the hypothesis that the second factor (consisting of Failure-to-Maintain-Set and other scores) found in two recent factor analyses of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test reflects attentional function. The effect of color overlays (an experimental manipulation known to influence neural systems linked to attention) was examined in 17 normal control and 14 attention-disordered children (ages 8 to 12). Group and Color main effects were found for Factor 1 (which consists largely of measures of perseveration) and a Color main effect was observed for Factor 2. The Color effect for Factor 2 supported the contention that this factor reflects attentional processes. A hypothesis concerning the relationship between problem solving and attention on the WCST is offered and a means for testing it is discussed.