Relationships Between Continuous Performance Task Scores and Other Cognitive Measures: Causality or Commonality?

Abstract

Relationships among continuous performance test, IQ, achievement, and memory/learning scores were explored in a clinical sample of 1,280 children ( M age = 9.4 years, M grade = 3.9). Intercorrelations among CPT measures were significant, but modest. Correlations between CPT measures and IQ, achievement, and memory/learning scores were also significant, but again generally weak. The CPT number correct scores were more strongly related to other cognitive measures than were commission (i.e., responding to incorrect stimuli) scores. The breadth and extent of associations among the CPT measures and the various cognitive/academic tasks suggest that all, to some extent, require attention and inhibition. The importance of routinely assessing attention and disinhibition in psychological testing is discussed.