Trail-Making Test - Subject Baseline
This measure appears in the following time-points: Baseline.
Related Construct
Description of Measure
Cognitive dysfunction related to impairment to the frontal cortex of the brain is assessed through the use of two well-accepted neurological tests, the Stroop Color-word test and the Trail Making Test. The Stroop is described in another section of the codebook.
The Trail-making test is a measure of general brain function (see Reitan, 1979). The skills required in completing the Trail-Making Test (Reitan, 1979) are indicative of the presence of brain damage. The test has two parts: Part A involves a series of numbers and the participant is required to connect the numbers in sequential order (similar to a dot-to-dot). Part B involves a series of numbers and letters and the participant is required to alternately connect letters and numbers in sequential order. The test generally requires ability to sequence (Parts A and B), ability to shift cognitive set (Part B), and processing speed (Parts A and B). Part A and Part B are scored separately and expressed in terms of the number of seconds it takes the participant to complete each section. Longer completion times (Child: Part A, greater than 18 seconds/Part B, greater than 37 seconds; Adult: Part A, greater than 39 seconds/Part B, greater than 85 seconds) are indicative of neurological deficit. Versions for adults (15 and older) and children (9-14) are available.
The following summary variables are available:
- Performance indicator for Part A and Part B which tells if the subject's performance indicates he/she is "perfectly normal", "normal", "mildly/moderately impaired" or "moderately/severely impaired" [S0trailsA], [S0trailsB]
Data Issues
- One subject (ID 54635) had a broken arm at the time of the baseline interview and was unable to complete the trails.
- Thirteen cases are missing scores for both s0trailsA and s0trailsB as a result of not completing the trails. Another four cases are missing scores for s0trailsA only as a result of not fully completing the trails.
References
- Reitan, R. (1979). Trail-making test. Arizona: Reitan Neuropsychology Laboratory.