TY - JOUR

T1 - Usability of a theory of visual attention (TVA) for parameter-based measurement of attention I: evidence from normal subjects

AU - Finke, Kathrin

AU - Bublak, Peter

AU - Krummenacher, Joseph

AU - Kyllingsbæk, Søren

AU - Muller, 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 a diagnostic 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. A number of studies (Duncan et al., 1999; Habekost & Bundesen, 2003; Peers et al., 2005) have already demonstrated the clinical relevance of these parameters. The present study was designed to examine whether (a) a shortened procedure bears sufficient accuracy and reliability, (b) whether the procedures reveal attentional constructs with clinical relevance, and (c) whether the mathematically independent parameters are also empirically independent. In a sample of 35 young healthy subjects, we found high intraparameter correlations between full- and short-length tests and sufficient internal consistencies as measured via a bootstrapping method. The clinical relevance of the TVA parameters 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 processing speed 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 a diagnostic 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. A number of studies (Duncan et al., 1999; Habekost & Bundesen, 2003; Peers et al., 2005) have already demonstrated the clinical relevance of these parameters. The present study was designed to examine whether (a) a shortened procedure bears sufficient accuracy and reliability, (b) whether the procedures reveal attentional constructs with clinical relevance, and (c) whether the mathematically independent parameters are also empirically independent. In a sample of 35 young healthy subjects, we found high intraparameter correlations between full- and short-length tests and sufficient internal consistencies as measured via a bootstrapping method. The clinical relevance of the TVA parameters 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 processing speed and working memory storage capacity, only modest correlations between the parameter values.

KW - Adult

KW - Attention

KW - Female

KW - Functional Laterality

KW - Humans

KW - Intelligence Tests

KW - Male

KW - Neuropsychological Tests

KW - Visual Perception

U2 - 10.10170S1355617705050976

DO - 10.10170S1355617705050976

M3 - Journal article

C2 - 16519262

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 -