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Using the twenty questions task in neuropsychology
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Abstractsfrom the 17thAnnualMeeting
abilitieshave a low-to-moderateinterrelationship(1?= .43 among summaryscores).Verbal abilitieswere distinguishedby greaterinterrelationshipthan visual-spatialabilities.Subjects were probably better able to measure verbal memory abilities; everyday visual-spatial memory may not be sufficientlyobservedby the subject.Older subjectsreported greater memory problems than younger subjects, yet their raw scores on the MAS were not dramaticallylower than younger subjects. The findings suggest that the self-re~rt of memory abilitiesis valid within a broad confidencelimit: Many normal subjectsreported poor memoryabilitiesyet their tested memoryfunctionwas at the averagelevel or higher. Giordano,H., Panchal,P., Holda,B., & Zillmer,E. A. Using the Twenty Questions Task in Neuropsychology.
The Twenty QuestionsTask (TQT) is used to assess problem-solvingand information processingin adults and children.The current study investigatesthe TQT, as a neuropsychologicaltool, specificallya measure of executiveproblem-solvingand planning. The relationshipsbetweenneuropsychologicalvariablesand TQT indiceswere examined.Subjects were comprisedof 118collegestudentswho were administered,accordingto standardized procedures,the Trail MakingTestA and B, SymbolDigit Span,WAIS-RInformation and PictureCompletion,the d2 Testof selectiveattention,the StroopColor-WordTest,and the Tower of London-Drexel.The TQT asks the subject to identify a specific animal by posingquestionsentailingonly a “yes” or “no” answer.The procedureis terminatedif the subjectreachesthe maximumnumberof 20 questions.The TQT rendersthree indices:the totaInumberof questions(TN), the numberof questionsbeforethe first guess(l G), and the types of questionsused (i.e., Constrain6Pseudo-constraint,and Hypothesis-scanning).Resultsrevealedthatthis sample(mean=21 years,57%male,and averageestimatedIQ= 105) requiredan averagenumberof 13questionsto solvethe problemand an averagenumberof 7 questionsbeforethe first guess.RegressionanaIysesusingthe neuropsychologicaltestsas predictorsand TQT indicesas dependentvariables,indicateda relationshipbetweenthe two sets of data. Specifically,TN was related significantlyto measuresof psychometricintelligence,particularlyverbal-comprehension; and, IG was relatedto measuresof planning,and responseinhibition(i.e.,Towerof Londonindices).The currentstudysuggeststhatwhilethe TQTis primarilya verballymediatedtest,the numberof questionsbeforethe firstguessmay bean importantneuropsychologicalvariableandrelatedto planning,inhibition,andresponse delay.Furtherstudyusing this measurein brain-impairedpopulationsis warranted. NEUROLOGICALILLNESS Anderson-Hanley,C., & Wilkins,S. S. Differentiating Seizure and Conversion Disorders: A Case Study. Purpose of the Study:Thiscomplexand interestingcasewas referredfor neuropsychological
evaluationafter the patienthad been evaluatedin the neurologyclinic.The patientreported a life-longbut patchyhistoryof epilepticseizures(with periodicpharmacologictreatment) and cognitivedit%culties(includingmemoryloss and an inabilityto concentrate).As a result of her reportedsymptoms,she had becomeincreasinglycompromisedin her dailyfunctioning; shewas unemployedand requiredshelteredlivingarrangements.However,neurological examinationsfoundno evidencefor seizuredisorderor CNS disease,usingEEG, telemetry monitoring,and otherlaboratorydata.Furthermore,her descriptionsof her seizureswere not consistentwith a usual pattern of seizure activity,but were consistentwith dissociative episodes.The referralwas made to determinethe patient’scurrentlevel of cognitiveability andto ascertainthecontributionof a psychiatriccomponentto her symptomatology.Method:
Abstractsfrom the 17thAnnualMeeting
abilitieshave a low-to-moderateinterrelationship(1?= .43 among summaryscores).Verbal abilitieswere distinguishedby greaterinterrelationshipthan visual-spatialabilities.Subjects were probably better able to measure verbal memory abilities; everyday visual-spatial memory may not be sufficientlyobservedby the subject.Older subjectsreported greater memory problems than younger subjects, yet their raw scores on the MAS were not dramaticallylower than younger subjects. The findings suggest that the self-re~rt of memory abilitiesis valid within a broad confidencelimit: Many normal subjectsreported poor memoryabilitiesyet their tested memoryfunctionwas at the averagelevel or higher. Giordano,H., Panchal,P., Holda,B., & Zillmer,E. A. Using the Twenty Questions Task in Neuropsychology.
The Twenty QuestionsTask (TQT) is used to assess problem-solvingand information processingin adults and children.The current study investigatesthe TQT, as a neuropsychologicaltool, specificallya measure of executiveproblem-solvingand planning. The relationshipsbetweenneuropsychologicalvariablesand TQT indiceswere examined.Subjects were comprisedof 118collegestudentswho were administered,accordingto standardized procedures,the Trail MakingTestA and B, SymbolDigit Span,WAIS-RInformation and PictureCompletion,the d2 Testof selectiveattention,the StroopColor-WordTest,and the Tower of London-Drexel.The TQT asks the subject to identify a specific animal by posingquestionsentailingonly a “yes” or “no” answer.The procedureis terminatedif the subjectreachesthe maximumnumberof 20 questions.The TQT rendersthree indices:the totaInumberof questions(TN), the numberof questionsbeforethe first guess(l G), and the types of questionsused (i.e., Constrain6Pseudo-constraint,and Hypothesis-scanning).Resultsrevealedthatthis sample(mean=21 years,57%male,and averageestimatedIQ= 105) requiredan averagenumberof 13questionsto solvethe problemand an averagenumberof 7 questionsbeforethe first guess.RegressionanaIysesusingthe neuropsychologicaltestsas predictorsand TQT indicesas dependentvariables,indicateda relationshipbetweenthe two sets of data. Specifically,TN was related significantlyto measuresof psychometricintelligence,particularlyverbal-comprehension; and, IG was relatedto measuresof planning,and responseinhibition(i.e.,Towerof Londonindices).The currentstudysuggeststhatwhilethe TQTis primarilya verballymediatedtest,the numberof questionsbeforethe firstguessmay bean importantneuropsychologicalvariableandrelatedto planning,inhibition,andresponse delay.Furtherstudyusing this measurein brain-impairedpopulationsis warranted. NEUROLOGICALILLNESS Anderson-Hanley,C., & Wilkins,S. S. Differentiating Seizure and Conversion Disorders: A Case Study. Purpose of the Study:Thiscomplexand interestingcasewas referredfor neuropsychological
evaluationafter the patienthad been evaluatedin the neurologyclinic.The patientreported a life-longbut patchyhistoryof epilepticseizures(with periodicpharmacologictreatment) and cognitivedit%culties(includingmemoryloss and an inabilityto concentrate).As a result of her reportedsymptoms,she had becomeincreasinglycompromisedin her dailyfunctioning; shewas unemployedand requiredshelteredlivingarrangements.However,neurological examinationsfoundno evidencefor seizuredisorderor CNS disease,usingEEG, telemetry monitoring,and otherlaboratorydata.Furthermore,her descriptionsof her seizureswere not consistentwith a usual pattern of seizure activity,but were consistentwith dissociative episodes.The referralwas made to determinethe patient’scurrentlevel of cognitiveability andto ascertainthecontributionof a psychiatriccomponentto her symptomatology.Method: