Assesses general neuropsychological functions such as visuomotor processing speed and cognitive flexibility.
The Trail-Making Test is widely used internationally to investigate brain functioning. It consists of two parts. TMT-A is primarily a measure of processing speed, while TMT-B assesses higher cognitive abilities such as mental flexibility. In the TMT-L version a weakness in the original version has been corrected by equalizing the length of the pathways in the two parts of the test. In addition, the points to be highlighted lie within a particular radius and within an angle of vision that permits foveal recognition. This means that performance in part B is not affected by greater visual search efforts and that working times can be more validly compared with each other. The test’s usefulness as a clinical test of visuomotor processing speed and cognitive flexibility has been demonstrated for both neurological and psychiatric disorders. The test has been found to be sensitive to neurocognitive deficits, such as those that occur as a result of brain injuries and neurological disorders. It is therefore used for screening, for assessing neuropsychological deficits and for preparing therapeutic interventions.

The test consists of two parts. In part A the numbers 1 to 25 appear on the screen in an apparently random arrangement. The respondent must tap or click on them in sequential order as quickly as possible, either tapping with the forefinger of the dominant hand or clicking with the mouse. Part B uses the numbers 1 to 13 and the letters A to L. These must be tapped or clicked alternately and in ascending order as quickly as possible,

S1: Parallel form M1 – Worked with mouse
S2: Parallel form M2 – Worked with mouse
S3: Parallel form M3 – Worked with mouse
S11: Parallel form T1 – Worked with touch-screen
S12: Parallel form T2 – Worked with touch-screen
S13: Parallel form T3 – Worked with touch-screen
 

The following main variables are scored:

• Working time – Part A: Measure of cognitive processing speed.
• Working time – Part B: Measure of cognitive flexibility.

The additional variables Difference B-A and Quotient B/A enable the individual’s cognitive performances to be compared with each other in a more nuanced assessment.