A critical review of the specificity of the Wisconsin card sorting test for the assessment of prefrontal function

摘要: INTRODUCTION AND OBJECTIVE Clinical and experimental research with the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST) has shown inconsistencies which bring into question specificity of test as a marker frontal dysfunction. The aim present review is to evaluate causes consequences those criticisms for assessment both prefrontal function executive system attention. DEVELOPMENT evidence confirms that, in its form, WCST can not discriminate between lesions non brain regions. Moreover, functional neuroimaging studies have rapid widespread activation regions during performance. On one hand, these strongly suggest that concept anatomically 'pure' tasks deceptive, but they also provide us might be motivated by problems internal validity reliability original measure attentional set shifting ability. In contrast, recent successfully employed analogues link precise cognitive processes functionally well defined areas. CONCLUSIONS It deemed necessary apply new technical methodological developments generate more valid reliable neuropsychological tests, yield better correspondence anatomy function. This will make possible future progress clinical higher functions.