A Menu of Self-Administered Microcomputer-Based Neurotoxicology Tests

By: Nasa, National Aeronautics and Space Adm

This study examined the feasibility of repeated self-administration of a newly developed battery of mental acuity tests. Researchers developed this battery to be used to screen the fitness for duty of persons in at-risk occupations (astronauts, race car drivers), or those who may be exposed to environmental stress, toxic agents, or disease. The menu under study contained cognitive and motor tests implemented on a portable microcomputer including: a five-test core battery, lasting six minutes, which had demonstrable reliabilities and stability from several previous repeated-measures studies, and also 13 new tests, lasting 42 minutes, which had appeared in other batteries but had not yet been evaluated for repeated-measures implementation in this medium. Sixteen subjects self-administered the battery over 10 repeated sessions. The hardware performed well throughout the study and the tests appeared to be easily self-administered. Stabilities and reliabilities of the test from the core battery were comparable to those obtained previously under more controlled experimental conditions. Analyses of metric properties of the remaining 13 tests produced eight additional tests with satisfactory properties. Although the average retest reliability was high, cross-correlations between tests were low, indicating factorial richness. The menu can be used to form batteries of flexible total testing time which are likely to tap different mental processes and functions. Kennedy, Robert S. and Wilkes, Robert L. and Kuntz, Lois-Ann and Baltzley, Dennis R. Unspecified Center NAS9-17326...

• Format: Paperback
• Language: English
• ISBN: 1729132332
• ISBN13: 9781729132333
• Release Date: January 1
• Publisher: Independently Published
• Length: 26 Pages
• Weight: 0.19 lbs.
• Dimensions: 0.1" x 8.5" x 11.0"