태블릿 기반 캠브리지 신경심리평가(Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery, CANTAB)를 통한 정상 발달 및 발달장애 아동의 작업기억 및 집행기능 특성 연구

초록

Purpose: This study aims to investigate the characteristics of working memory and executive functions in typically developing children and children with developmental delays using the tablet-based Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB). Methods: The participants were 86 children aged 6 to 12 years, including 57 typically developing children and 29 children with developmental disabilities. The Spatial Working Memory (SWM) and Stocking of Cambridge (SOC) subtests of the CANTAB were administered to the children. Descriptive statistics, independent t-tests, and ROC analysis were conducted using Jamovi 2.2.5 and SPSS Statistics 29.0.2.0. Results: In the typically developing children group, significant age-related differences were found in six sub-scales of the SOC and SWM (p<0.05), and a significant gender-related difference was found in one sub-scale of the SOC (p<0.05). In contrast, the developmental delays group showed no significant age or gender differences. Comparing the typically developing and developmental delays groups revealed no significant differences in the preschool and lower-grade groups. However, in the higher-grade group, significant differences were found in eight items of the SOC and SWM between the two diagnostic groups (p<0.05). Conclusions: This study confirmed that the CANTAB is an useful tool for assessing working memory and executive functions in higher-grade elementary school children with typical development and developmental delays. Future studies should collect more data from children in Korea to establish normative scores considering age and gender characteristics. This would enhance the utility of the CANTAB in assessing children’s working memory and executive functions.

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