The PASAT is a neuropsychological tool to assess attention, information processing, and working memory. The task requires subjects to add consecutive digits together in a specified timeframe. It was originally used in cerebral concussion research to measure information processing during recovery from a closed head injury.
20 Normative data have been published,
21 and although a learning effect can be demonstrated, the interrater and intrarater reliability scores are excellent.
22 It is now commonly included in batteries of attention tests.
We administered the PASAT, using a portable cassette tape player. The voice on the cassette was male with an Australian accent. A short description of the test, followed by test instructions, was given before the practice test was administered. The tape was then stopped, the instructions were discussed, and questions were answered. The practice session, which consisted of 10 presentations of random numbers ranging from 1 to 9, was then administered. The subject was expected to add the first number to the second number, give the answer verbally, add the third number to the second number (not the answer of the first plus the second), verbally state the answer, and so on. The rate of presentation for the practice session and the test sessions was 2.4 seconds. The baseline test was presented exactly like the practice test, except that it was longer, using 61 trials of number presentations instead of 10 and lasted approximately 2.39 minutes. The portion of the PASAT used in conjunction with visual field testing was the same 2.39-minute segment modified in length to play continuously until the test was completed. Each subject performed a baseline PASAT.