Mental Attributes Profiling System

The MAPS (Mental Attributes Profiling System) cognitive test is a battery of more than 12 validated computer-based video-game-like tests that assess the learning abilities of pre-elementary and elementary age school children. The non-verbal group consists of language-independent tests. Snap shots of three tests are shown in Fig. 1. Fig. 1. Examples of three out of the 8 interfaces used in the study reported here to evaluate non-verbal mental attributes. Categorization ability (left) orientation (center) and navigation (right).

The following eight tests have been used for the multimodal evaluation reported here:

Categorization The test (Fig. 1; Left) presents an object on the lower part of the screen and invites the subject to “drag” it in one of three squares that represent different “worlds,” for which there is a match. The following “categories” were tested: (1) Objects of different color to be placed in one of three possible “colored worlds,” i.e., squares of three different colors; (2) One geometrical object, (i.e., triangular, circular, or rectangular), to be placed in its corresponding world, i.e., the squares contained triangular, circular or rectangular shapes respectively; (3) A plant matched as a vegetable, a tree, or a flower. (4) An animal (or fish) to be placed in one of three possible environments: sea, sky, or open fields. (5) Objects usually found in a home environment, to be “placed” in one of three rooms of a house (office, kitchen, or bathroom), i.e., as in the example snapshot shown in Fig. 1 (left). The software measured the time to response and whether the move was correct or false. For this study we used only the average response time (i.e., the cumulative response time of each test divided by 5: (ctt1+ctt2+...ctt5)/5 in Table 1), as it has been shown previously to have a higher correlation than the Correct/False values. Orientation: “Left-Right Game” Lateral awareness Test This test (Fig 1; Center) provides two types of measures. One, it evaluates the child’s ability to make left-right discriminations on his own body. During the first part, the test shows a child “sitting” in the same orientation as the subject (i.e., the subject sees on the screen the back of the child) in front of two objects, one on his/her upper left and the other on his/her upper right visual field. The computer asks the subject to “grab” the left or right object using his/her left or right hand. What is measured is (1) the time taken to select an arm (by clicking at the shoulder), and (2) whether the selected arm was correct or wrong. The same procedure is repeated during the second part of the test, in which the orientation of the child on the screen is reversed, i.e., the child on the screen is facing the subject. The second type of measures are derived from Piaget’s (19) tests to evaluate awareness of right-left relations outside our own body, i.e., in the environment. To evaluate this ability, the test measures (1) the time taken by the subject to decide which object to “grab” and (2) the number of correct/wrong decisions.

Navigation The Navigation test (Fig 1; Right) consists of an 8x8 matrix of small pieces of cheese and a mouse. The computer instructs the subject to move the mouse in one of eight possible directions to “eat” the corresponding piece of cheese: Up, Right-up, Right, Right-Down, Down, Left-down, Left, and Left-up. The instructions are given both visually (with the aid of a small arrow) and/or orally. For the tests reported here the instructions were given only orally. The software measured the total number of correct responses and the total number of correct responses divided by total number of trials.

Sequencing This test was inspired by the “connect the puzzle” games. Different objects or animals appear in two-, three-, four-, or five pieces and the subject is requested to “drag” the pieces and place them in the right order to complete the picture. The second part of the test presents pictures, which represent different stages of a temporal process. The subject is expected to put them in the correct chronological order. The test measured the total time required to complete each sub-section of the test (the test was comprised of six different types of exercises divided by six (i.e., (stt1+stt2+...stt6)/6 in Tabl.1).

Visual memory This test is based on the well-known card game called “Memory,” in which the subject uncovers two cards at a time. If the two cards featured the same picture, they would remain uncovered and thus visible. Otherwise they are turned back as they were, and the game continues until all cards are uncovered. The test keeps records of many parameters, including the number of iterations that have passed since the subject “saw” a certain card. For the purpose of this study, only VMtt: Total time to complete the test, and VMnoT: Total number of trials, were used.

Auditory memory The test was modeled using the digital phone metaphor. The computer instructor invites the subject to “dial” a telephone number. Two sets of two-digit numbers are followed by four sets of three-, four-, five-, and six digit numbers, respectively. The test concludes by presenting a set of two seven-digit numbers. The feedback is positive/neutral giving no clue regarding the correctness of the response. The test is terminated if the subject makes 3 consecutive errors. For the purposes of the research reported here, AMTc: Total number of correct responses and AMTcw: weighted number of correct digits (i.e., all correctly types digits even when the sequence was wrong) were used as measures of auditory digit span.

Auditory discrimination test The main screen of the test features two human-like figures, who “speak” a word, one after the other. The subject is asked to decide whether the two words are the same or different by clicking on an “” or a “•” sign. Each word includes consonants, which sound similar and are therefore confused by weak readers and especially by dyslexics in the Greek language. The following letter combinations were tested: (1) φ-β, (2) δ-θ, (3) ζ-σ, (4) χ-γ, (5) τ-ντ, (6) κ-γγ/γκ, (7) π-μπ, (8) τσ-στ, (9) γ-γγ/γκ, (10) ξ-κς. In additional sets, the test also evaluates the ability of the child to differentiate between the same letter combinations when they are embedded in non-sense words. The test kept record of the time and correctness of each instance. In Tabl.1 adtt(1), adtt(2),...adtt(n) are used to denote the time taken to respond to each card presented.

Visual discrimination Modeled using the popular “Find the differences” game, this test presents three pictures very similar to one another and one that must be matched. The exercise is repeated four times with four different pictures. The total number of correct responses is used as an index of visual discrimination.