Missing Elements in the Neuropsychological Assessment of EF

Abstract

There are many reasons why current neuropsychological tests can demonstrate only limited utility in the assessment of cognitive control. One reason concerns the paradigm upon which many neuropsychological tests are developed, which often generates results that focus upon variations of convergent thinking. The second reason concerns the absence of tests of procedural learning. The third reason concerns the lack of adequately assessing the reward system and reward preferences. These features of neuropsychological assessment seem sufficient for opening a discussion about modifying the ways in which we should evaluate cognitive control systems.

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There are many reasons why current neuropsychological tests can demonstrate only limited utility in the assessment of cognitive control. One reason concerns the paradigm upon which many neuropsychological tests are developed, which often generates results that focus upon variations of convergent thinking. The second reason concerns the absence of tests of procedural learning. The third reason concerns the lack of adequately assessing the reward system and reward preferences. These features of neuropsychological assessment seem sufficient for opening a discussion about modifying the ways in which we should evaluate cognitive control systems.