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Continuous performance tasks measure a person’s neurological function, focusing on sustained attention, selective attention, and impulsivity. They help neurologists test for neurological conditions, such as attention deficit disorder. Different tests are designed for different age groups, and factors such as fatigue can affect test results. Common tests include Conners’ Continuous Performance Task II and the integrated visual and auditory test.
A continuous performance task is a set of tests designed to measure a person’s neurological function. The tests focus specifically on a person’s sustained attention span, as well as the person’s selective attention and impulsivity. Patients have to process a variety of information, as well as provide answers to various questions given during the tests. The ultimate goal of continuous performance testing is to measure a patient’s executive functioning, or ability to sort and make sense of different degrees and types of information.
Applications of continuous performance tasks vary, helping neurologists test for the possible presence of a variety of neurological conditions in patients. Commonly, tests can help confirm whether a patient has attention deficit disorder. Different test formats have been created for children, youth and adult patients, as each age group has different understanding and information processing abilities.
Measuring sustained patient attention involves the patient consistently focusing on a single task for extended periods of time. A patient’s selective attention and impulsivity can be measured by observing him or her focus on specific stimuli while ignoring competing or distracting stimuli. Most continuous performance tests incorporate tests for both sustained and selective attention skills, providing a clearer picture of a patient’s neurological abilities and limitations.
Different factors could be measured from different varieties of continuous performance task tests. Some tests are designed with high and low load sections. These tests measure how many commission errors a patient makes during the high-load sections and how many errors of omission a patient makes during the low-load sections of the test.
Different conditions might affect how a patient performs with different types of continuing performance activities. Fatigue will negatively affect the outcome of a test or series of tests, so a neurologist will prescribe that all tests be performed at the same or similar time of day to avoid variations in different test scores that are a result of fatigue . When administered correctly, the tests should produce the same results no matter how many times a patient takes them.
There are a variety of continuous performance tests, each with its own goal and method for measuring a patient’s neurological abilities. Some common tests include Conners’ Continuous Performance Task II, the integrated visual and auditory test, and the attention variables test. Depending on the neurologist’s assessment of the patient, he or she may choose to have one, two, or more tests to determine the type and extent of any neurological disorders.
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