Tower of London test
From Psy3242
Neuropsychological Methods � The Tower of London
This is a well known neuropsychological test, generally used to assess executive functioning. It consists of two boards with pegs and several beads with different colours. The test observer, normally a neuropsychologist, then uses the board in avariety of ways to test problem solving skills. Performance is then compared to representative samples f those of the same age in order to determine cognitive ability. Tower of London scores increase in a linear fashion with age but once in 8th grade there is no statistical difference to the results of young adults.
There is some controversy about the test and its accuracy and reliability especially as scientists use a wide variety of variants and scoring systems but it continues to be used to assess visuospatial planning and problem solving skills. Although it is used in neuropsychological experiments it is rare that it is used in clinical testing. However in one clinical test using the Tower of London it was found that brain activation during planning activities primarily resides in the prefrontal cortex. This was shown using MR imaging as patient�s conducted the test (Lazeron et al. American Journal of Neuroradiology. 21:1407-1414. 8 2000).
Variants have been devised for use with children and adults suffering from brain dysfunction but it is rarely used in the assessment of children with learning disabilities. One such test, however, found that children with arithmetic difficulties exhibited significantly greater impairment using the Tower of London test than those with either reading difficulties or no difficulty at al (Sikora et al Development Neuropsychology vol 21 issue 3, June 02. 243-254). Perhaps executives that are stronger literally than numerically would do well with the Tower of London test?
Perhaps because it is used to assess cognitive ability a form of the Tower of London is used in a wide a variety of puzzles, including computer games.
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