An Adaptive-Rate Continuous Performance Test: Vigilance Characteristics and Reliability for 400 Male Students

Abstract

An adaptive-rate Continuous Performance Task for the assessment of human performance has been developed based on the original method of Rosvold, et al. (1956). The stimulus presentation speeds up after correct detections and slows down after errors of omission or commission, allowing applications in a wide range of clinical populations and normal age groups. Adequate error rates are obtained to characterize each individual's performance. Signal detection analysis yields d′ and β parameters with adequate test-retest reliability over 6 mo. A specific decline in a′ over time is consistent with other studies of human vigilance.