The Advanced Attention
series addresses those aspects of attention beyond arousal and the ability to sustain a
focus, e.g, the ability to resist distraction,allocating and dividing attention,
simultaneous information processing and mental flexibility. Included in this series is
PVSAT(Paced Visual Serial Addition Task) which was inspired by the PASAT of Gronwall and
Wrightson.This task can be run in ways that parallel the classic version, and modified to
address response control with minimal physical responding (a single switch press).
MOTORSEQ (Motor Sequences) includes some complex keyboard sequences; while ALPHASEQ
(Alphabet Sequences) includes typing the alphabet forwards and backwards.Complex visual
attention is required by the proof-reading tasks of DETECT (Error Detection in Texts) and
SEARCH (Visual Search).
NSERIES (Number Series), Scan
(Visual Line and Text Scanning) and ATTEND (Vigilance) are additional tools for addressing
advanced attention.
RESPONSES: keyboard, mouse, external switch.
INFO/RECORD KEEPING: The programs score and store responses for later
viewing.
EQUIPMENT: IBM/PC or true compatible, VGA, 1 meg RAM,1 MEG H.D. space.
OPTIONAL EQUIPMENT: Printer highly recommended.
This task contrasts the amount of time to type the alphabet forwards with the time to do it backwards. Concentration and motor planning are required.Oral (examiner types) and typed modes are possible Concentration and control,together with perseverance, are necessary for most people to type the alphabet backwards. The alphabet forwards is essentially a baseline for the backwards version.
Error Detection in Texts is a paper-and-pencil proofreading exercise designed to assess attention and, especially, central hemi-field impairment, which is otherwise difficult to diagnose and can interfere with near point activities.This task has proven to be very sensitive to lateralized impairments of the central visual hemi-field. Part of the sensitivity derives from the fact that the individual is NOT required to read out loud, and, therefore,is induced to read quickly. This task is also useful to assess the ability to sustain an independent work effort, as well as to evaluate the ability to detect errors.
Requires rapid execution of key press sequences. Simplest is the same key pressed50 times; while more complex involve double alternating series, e.g., ccvvccvvetc. Addresses fine motor coordination and cognitive control of movements.MOTORSEQ allows the clinician to address fine motor control and coordination.One can compare time and accuracy for both dominant and non-dominant hemispheres.Cognitive control of movement is incorporated by varying the complexity of different series.
Paced Visual Serial Attention Task is a computerized version of an auditory task sensitive to several aspects of attentional capacity. The auditory task has been useful for long-term follow-up with mild brain injury survivors.
Based on a classic visual search task by Poppelreuter, this task requires the location of a target shape in an 8 x 8 array of different shapes. The shapes are abstract geometric patterns. The response is to move the mouse cursor to the target shape that matches the one in the center as quickly as possible.Search time is recorded and analyzed by location. SEARCH for Shapes is informationally dense (i.e. a relatively difficult one - compared to SOSH in Basic Attention) and designed to demand much attention to all areas of the display. It is a task which calls for many skills, ranging from visual inspection, short-term visual memory, uniform scanning on both sides of the display, to sustained attention and frustration tolerance.
This program provides a set of vigilance tasks wherein the user responds to targets and inhibits responses to non-targets. For severe attentional deficits,the stimuli available are extremely simple: a cross = target, a square= non-target. If greater difficulty is desired, letters of the alphabet may be used instead. The administrator has a wide range of choices of number of trials, stimulus exposure/non-exposure duration, stimulus type, and regular or randomized intervals between stimuli. Thus, a task can be constructed to suit the level of the deficit.
In this program, two formats are provided: LINESCAN and TEXTSCAN. Both require the eyes to scan in one direction and then move back quickly to the starting side. In TEXTSCAN, as letters move across the screen, one must respond when the target letter is briefly bracketed with parentheses or, in Level2, when a distracter (moving) letter changes briefly into a target letter.Since letters which are similar may be selected by the administrator, the task difficulty is variable. Prompts are given at the "easy"level. Scoring is provided for left, middle, and right parts of the visual field. In LINESCAN, a letter or number appears briefly at one edge of the screen, and then that same letter or a different letter appears at the opposite edge of the screen. A correct response involves pressing the spacebar if the letters are the same. Scanning speed is adjustable over a wide range in both formats.
This program provides practice solving problems of the type "10, 12, 14,?" (addition); "75, 70, 65, ?" (subtraction); and "9,8, 8, 9, ?" (pattern) at two levels of difficulty. These tasks require attention, discrimination, and logical thought. The user receives feedback,and can choose to receive a prompt. Scoring is given separately for each type of series.
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