Does familiarity with computers affect computerized neuropsychological test performance?

J Clin Exp Neuropsychol. 2009 Jul;31(5):594-604. doi: 10.1080/13803390802372125. Epub 2008 Oct 29.

Abstract

The purpose of this study was to determine whether self-reported computer familiarity is related to performance on computerized neurocognitive testing. Participants were 130 healthy adults who self-reported whether their computer use was "some" (n = 65) or "frequent" (n = 65). The two groups were individually matched on age, education, sex, and race. All completed the CNS Vital Signs (Gualtieri & Johnson, 2006b) computerized neurocognitive battery. There were significant differences on 6 of the 23 scores, including scores derived from the Symbol-Digit Coding Test, Stroop Test, and the Shifting Attention Test. The two groups were also significantly different on the Psychomotor Speed (Cohen's d = 0.37), Reaction Time (d = 0.68), Complex Attention (d = 0.40), and Cognitive Flexibility (d = 0.64) domain scores. People with "frequent" computer use performed better than people with "some" computer use on some tests requiring rapid visual scanning and keyboard work.

MeSH terms

  • Adolescent
  • Adult
  • Age Factors
  • Aged
  • Attention
  • Cognition / physiology*
  • Computers*
  • Female
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory
  • Middle Aged
  • Neuropsychological Tests*
  • Numerical Analysis, Computer-Assisted*
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Recognition, Psychology / physiology*
  • Statistics, Nonparametric
  • Verbal Behavior
  • Young Adult