Assessing workload in neuropsychology: An illustration with the Tower of Hanoi test

Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology
David J Hardy, Matthew J Wright

Abstract

Workload is a common and useful construct in human factors research that has been largely overlooked in other areas of psychology, including neuropsychology, where it could be effectively employed both theoretically and practically. A popular subjective measure of workload, the NASA-Task Load Index (NASA-TLX), is illustrated with a computerized version of the Tower of Hanoi (TOH), a typical neuropsychological test of executive function. Reported workload, especially as an overall measure and also for the Mental Demand and Effort subscales, was greater in the more difficult TOH conditions and was positively correlated with number of moves to complete the TOH as well as completion time. Thus, results support the utility or construct validity of the NASA-TLX in reflecting workload states in the individual as well as various demands of the neuropsychological test (the timing, physical demands, etc.). It is argued that workload can be a useful construct in neuropsychological assessment, providing an additional channel of information on patient status. For instance, what does it mean if test performance for a patient is at a typical level (indicating no deficit) but workload is exceptionally high?

References

Dec 1, 1990·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·N ButtersE Stover
Jan 29, 2000·Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology·C H HinkinD J Hardy
Sep 7, 2002·Applied Neuropsychology·David Mataix-Cols, David Bartrés-Faz
Sep 11, 2013·Trends in Cognitive Sciences·Daniel Barulli, Yaakov Stern
Dec 3, 2014·Ergonomics·Mark S YoungPeter A Hancock

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Citations

Mar 12, 2021·Brain : a Journal of Neurology·Thomas ParrKarl Friston

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