Cognitive dysfunction related to impairment to the frontal cortex of the brain is assessed through the use of two well-accepted neurological tests, the Stroop Color-Word Test and the Trail Making Test. Specific information regarding the Trail-making Test can be found in another codebook section. The dimensions tapped by the Stroop have been associated with cognitive flexibility, resistance to interference from outside stimuli, creativity, psychopathology and cognitive complexity (see Golden, 1978).
The Stroop Color and Word Test (Golden, 1978) is used to examine the effects of interference on reading ability. The Stroop contains three parts: word page (the names of colors printed in black ink), color page (rows of X's printed in colored ink) and word-color page (the words from the first page are printed in the colors from the second page; however, the word meanings and ink colors are mismatched), each with 5 columns containing 20 items. The subject's task is to look at each sheet and move down the columns, reading words or naming the ink colors as quickly as possible, within a given time limit (45 seconds). Three scores, as well as an interference score, are generated using the number of items completed on each page, with higher scores reflecting better performance and less interference on reading ability. The Stroop can be used on both children and adults (Grade 2 through adult), and testing can be done in approximately 5 minutes.
Stroop scores