Research and Academic Collaborations

Cogstate provides a digital cognitive testing system that dramatically increases the sensitivity and specificity of the measurement of human cognition in your studies.

Our well validated assessments are rapid, reliable, and have demonstrated sensitivity to even subtle changes across multiple cognitive domains. Our secure cloud-based data management system allows you real-time access to high-quality data.

With decades of experience in this field, Cogstate has been selected to support research and academic collaborations in more than 1,800 studies across 190 indications, resulting in hundreds of peer reviewed publications.

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Advantages of Cogstate Research

Standardized administration with automated scoring

High usability and acceptability to participants

Low practice effect, unaffected by language or culture

Availability in 47 languages

Rapid assessment

Secure, cloud-based data management system for efficient cleaning and analysis

Online training and exceptional customer support

Application across almost 200 different indications

Tests of Multiple Cognitive Domains

Cogstate Research allows the freedom to select a battery of cognitive tests that are most appropriate for your testing protocol. Each test has been designed and validated to assess specific domains including psychomotor function, attention, memory, executive function, verbal learning and social-emotional cognition. The below tests are available as standard; and additional tests, such as the Face Name Associative Memory Exam or pediatric versions of tests, can be added when a Customized Software Configuration is commissioned.

Chase Test Visual Motor Control

“Chase the target”

The Chase test measures visual motor control using a “chase the target” paradigm. This test is usually presented immediately before the Groton Maze Learning Test to familiarize the participant with the grid and to gain a measure of visuo-motor speed.

The Chase test uses the same size grid as the Groton Maze Learning Test (e.g., a 10 x 10 grid of tiles). A red target is presented in the top left tile; the participant must select this target to begin the test. The target will move randomly from tile to tile throughout the grid and the participant must chase it by selecting tiles one at a time. If the correct move is made, a green checkmark briefly appears. If the move is incorrect, a red cross is briefly revealed.

Cognitive Domain:
Visual Motor Control

Administration Time:
2 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Number of correct moves per second chasing the target.

 

Continuous Paired Associate Learning Test Paired Associate Learning

“In what locations do these pictures belong?”

The Continuous Paired Associate Learning test measures visual memory using a paired associative learning paradigm. In this test, the participant must learn and remember the pictures hidden beneath different locations on the screen. In the first stage of the test the pre-test on-screen instructions ask: “In what locations do these pictures belong”. A picture is presented in the centre of the screen. The participant taps the peripheral location of the picture and must remember its location. During the second stage of the test the same pictures are presented in the centre of the screen, however the peripheral location of each picture is hidden. The participant must tap on the peripheral location where the picture previously appeared.

Cognitive Domain:
Paired Associate Learning

Administration Time:
7 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Total number of errors across the seven rounds in the test.

Detection Test Psychomotor Function

“Has the card turned over?”

The Detection test measures processing speed using a simple reaction time paradigm. The on-screen instructions ask: “Has the card turned over?”. A playing card is presented face down in the center of the screen. The card flips over so it is face up. As soon as the card flips over the participant must press “Yes”. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Psychomotor Function

Administration Time:
3 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Speed of performance (mean of the log10 transformed reaction times for correct responses).

Groton Maze Learning Test Executive Function

“Find the hidden pathway”

The Groton Maze Learning Test measures executive function using a maze learning paradigm. A 10 x 10 grid of tiles is presented to the participant on the screen. A 28-step pathway is hidden among these tiles. A blue tile indicates the start and a tile with red circles indicates the finish. The participant must move one step at a time from the start toward the end by touching a tile next to their current location. If the correct move is made a green checkmark appears and if the move is incorrect a red cross is revealed. Once completed, they are returned to the start location to repeat the test and must try to remember the pathway they have just completed.

The Groton Maze Learning Test is also available in a “Delayed Recall” version, which measures visual memory.

Cognitive Domain:
Executive Function

Administration Time:
7 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Total number of errors made in attempting to learn the same hidden pathway on five consecutive trials during a single session.

Identification Test Attention

“Is the card red?”

The Identification test measures attention using a choice reaction time paradigm. The on-screen instructions ask: “Is the card red?”. A playing card is presented face down in the center of the screen. The card flips over so it is face up. As soon as it flips over the participant must decide whether the card is red or not. If it is red the participant should press “Yes”, and if it is not red the participant should press “No”. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Attention

Administration Time:
3 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Speed of performance (mean of the log10 transformed reaction times for correct responses).

International Shopping List Test Verbal Learning

“Tell me as many of the items on the shopping list as you can remember?”

The International Shopping List Test measures verbal learning using a word list learning paradigm. The participant is read a shopping list and must remember and recall as many items from the list as possible.

The International Shopping List Test is also available in a “Delayed Recall” version, which measures verbal memory.

For the International Shopping List Test, the computer faces the test administrator and the screen is not visible to the test participant.

Cognitive Domain:
Verbal Learning

Administration Time:
5 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Total number of correct responses made in remembering the list on three consecutive trials at a single session.

 

One Card Learning Test Visual Learning

“Have you seen this card before?”

The One Card Learning test measures visual memory using a pattern separation paradigm. The on-screen instructions ask: “Have you seen this card before in this test?”. A playing card is presented face up in the center of the screen and the participant must decide whether they have seen the card before in this test. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Visual Learning

Administration Time:
6 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Accuracy of performance (arcsine transformation of the square root of the proportion of correct responses).

One Back Test Working Memory

“Is the previous card the same?”

The One Back test measures working memory using an n-back paradigm. The on-screen instructions ask: “Is the previous card the same?”. A playing card is presented face up in the center of the screen. The participant must decide whether the card is the same as the previous card. If the card is the same the participant should press “Yes”, and if it is not the same the participant should press “No”. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Working Memory

Administration Time:
4 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Speed of performance (mean of the log10 transformed reaction times for correct responses); Accuracy of performance (arcsine transformation of the square root of the proportion of correct responses).

Set-Shifting Test Set Shifting (Executive Function)

“Is this a target card?”

The Set-Shifting test uses a set shifting paradigm to measure executive function. The on-screen instructions ask: “Is this a target card?”. A playing card is presented face up in the center of the screen with the word “Number” or “Color” above it. If the word is “Color” the participant must guess whether the target card is black or red. If the word is “Number” the participant must guess whether the current number displayed on the card is correct. At the beginning of the test, the participant simply needs to guess whether the current card is the target card. If they think the card is the target card, the participant should press “Yes”. If they think the card is not the target card, they must press “No”. As the participant makes their guesses, feedback is provided and the next card is not displayed until a correct response has been made. Once the participant has made their way through a set of cards the hidden rule changes (e.g., from one color to the other color [intra-dimensional shift], or from color to number [extra-dimensional shift]). The participant is not told when these set-shifts occur, and they must learn the new target rule to proceed through the test. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Set Shifting (Executive Function)

Administration Time:
7 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Total number of errors made during the test.

Social-Emotional Cognition Test Emotional Recognition

“Tap the odd one out”

The Social-Emotional Cognition Test measures emotional recognition using an odd-man out paradigm. The on-screen instructions ask: “Tap the odd one out”. Four pictures are presented on the screen. One of these pictures will be different to the others and the participant must decide which picture is different and tap that picture. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Emotional Recognition

Administration Time:
6 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Accuracy of performance (arcsine transformation of the square root of the proportion of correct responses).

Two Back Test Working Memory

“Is the card the same as that shown two cards ago?”

The Two Back test measures working memory using an n-back paradigm. The on-screen instructions ask: “Is the card the same as that shown two cards ago?”. A playing card is presented face up in the center of the screen. The participant must decide whether the card is the same as the card shown two cards previously. If the card is the same the participant should press “Yes”, and if it is not the same the participant should press “No”. The participant is encouraged to work as quickly as they can and be as accurate as possible.

Cognitive Domain:
Working Memory

Administration Time:
4 Minutes (for healthy participants)

Outcome Measures:
Accuracy of performance (arcsine transformation of the square root of the proportion of correct responses).

Secure Online Data Management Software

Cogstate Research includes our secure online data management system for efficient data storage and ongoing management of data discrepancies. When researchers upload cognitive test data, they can immediately access the results allowing for efficient review, cleaning and analysis. Researchers can extract clean datasets at any number of interim points during the course of a study or to extract datasets on the same day at last subject, last visit.

Suitable for Wide Range of Populations

Cogstate tests have been extensively validated in healthy populations and hundreds of indications including ADHD, fatigue, post-operative cognitive dysfunction, MCI, early Alzheimer’s disease and dementia, Schizophrenia, mood disorders and multiple oncology indications. The tests included as standard in Cogstate Research are suitable for participants aged 10-99, and a specialized pediatric battery can also be made available for populations as young as 4 years of age through our customized software configurations.

Web-based Testing and Hardware Compatibility

The standard software for Cogstate Research is compatible with most PCs with Windows-based operating systems. Other deployment options can also be supported when a Customized Software Configuration is commissioned. This includes iPad testing or web-based testing from any tablet or PC with a modern web-browser.

Additional Expert Support

Cogstate Research provides a complete solution for researchers to easily and efficiently complete all their training, testing and data cleaning and analysis. But for those studies where additional expert support is required, Cogstate offers custom optional services including:

  • Scientific consulting
  • Additional language translations of instructions
  • Custom training
  • Data cleaning
  • Statistical analysis

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