Development of the KeyStrokes test: An online neuropsychological assessment for attention, processing speed and executive function.

Abstract

The 'KeyStrokes' test (KS) was created as an online and computerized neuropsychological assessment to assess simple attention, processing speed, and executive function. This pilot study aims to show proof of concept of the KS test as a computerized assessment. Building on a previous feasibility study, we assessed the KS test's internal consistency and correlations to other neurocognitive assessments. Participants were recruited from a clinical sample of patients referred for standard neuropsychological evaluation and were asked to perform several standard neurocognitive tests and six subtests of the KS: two response time trials (arrows, words), three inhibition trials (arrows, words, arrows/words) and one inhibition/switching trial (arrows/words). We assessed internal consistency; conducted correlation analyses between each KS subtest, standard neuropsychological tests, and demographic characteristics (age, education, ethnicity, and gender); and conducted multiple regression analyses to assess the relationship between test performance and age and education. We assessed 87 individuals with a mean age of 54.09 years. Correlations between KS subtests were positive and strong (all above ρ > .72, p < .001). Subtests were generally positively correlated with select WAIS-IV and Reynolds Interference Task subtests, and negatively correlated with trail making tests, the grooved pegboard test, and age. Age significantly predicted performance (p < .001), whereas education did not. Ethnicity appeared to correlate with certain subtests, whereas gender did not. Analysis of correlations between the KS subtests and multiple well-established neuropsychological tests showed the possible viability of the KS as a new neurocognitive measure assessing areas of attention, processing speed, and executive function. Additional study of the KS can provide more evidence for its use as a new computerized, and possible online neuropsychological assessment.