TY - JOUR

T1 - Usability of a theory of visual attention (TVA) for parameter-based measurement of attention I

T2 - Evidence from normal subjects

AU - Finke, Kathrin

AU - Bublak, Peter

AU - Krummenacher, Joseph

AU - Kyllingsbæk, Søren

AU - Müller, Hermann J.

AU - Schneider, Werner X.

PY - 2005

Y1 - 2005

N2 - The present study investigated the usability of whole and partial report of briefly displayed letter arrays as adiagnostic tool for the assessment of attentional functions. The tool is based on Bundesen’s (1990, 1998, 2002;Bundesen et al., 2005) theory of visual attention (TVA), which assumes four separable attentional components:processing speed, working memory storage capacity, spatial distribution of attention, and top-down control. Anumber of studies (Duncan et al., 1999; Habekost & Bundesen, 2003; Peers et al., 2005) have already demonstratedthe clinical relevance of these parameters. The present study was designed to examine whether (a) a shortenedprocedure bears sufficient accuracy and reliability, (b) whether the procedures reveal attentional constructs withclinical relevance, and (c) whether the mathematically independent parameters are also empirically independent. Ina sample of 35 young healthy subjects, we found high intraparameter correlations between full- and short-lengthtests and sufficient internal consistencies as measured via a bootstrapping method. The clinical relevance of the TVAparameters was demonstrated by significant correlations with established clinical tests measuring similar constructs.The empirical independence of the four TVA parameters is suggested by nonsignificant or, in the case of processingspeed and working memory storage capacity, only modest correlations between the parameter values.

AB - The present study investigated the usability of whole and partial report of briefly displayed letter arrays as adiagnostic tool for the assessment of attentional functions. The tool is based on Bundesen’s (1990, 1998, 2002;Bundesen et al., 2005) theory of visual attention (TVA), which assumes four separable attentional components:processing speed, working memory storage capacity, spatial distribution of attention, and top-down control. Anumber of studies (Duncan et al., 1999; Habekost & Bundesen, 2003; Peers et al., 2005) have already demonstratedthe clinical relevance of these parameters. The present study was designed to examine whether (a) a shortenedprocedure bears sufficient accuracy and reliability, (b) whether the procedures reveal attentional constructs withclinical relevance, and (c) whether the mathematically independent parameters are also empirically independent. Ina sample of 35 young healthy subjects, we found high intraparameter correlations between full- and short-lengthtests and sufficient internal consistencies as measured via a bootstrapping method. The clinical relevance of the TVAparameters was demonstrated by significant correlations with established clinical tests measuring similar constructs.The empirical independence of the four TVA parameters is suggested by nonsignificant or, in the case of processingspeed and working memory storage capacity, only modest correlations between the parameter values.

U2 - 10.1017/S1355617705050976

DO - 10.1017/S1355617705050976

M3 - Journal article

VL - 11

SP - 832

EP - 842

JO - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

JF - Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society

SN - 1355-6177

IS - 7

ER -