Tasks of Executive Control™ (TEC)

The TEC is a standardised computer-administered measure of two fundamental aspects of executive control processes: working memory and inhibitory control. It produces Factor scores, Summary scores and Task scores.

The TEC offers a unique approach to executive function assessment that represents the first standardised clinical application of two integrated neuroscience methods commonly used to tap working memory and inhibitory control: an n-back paradigm that parametrically increases working memory load and a go/no-go task to manipulate inhibitory control demand. This combination of methods yields four sequential tasks for 5 to 7 year old children and six tasks for older children and adolescents ages 8 to 18 years. Three equivalent forms and two research forms are included, along with standardised regression-based change scores that facilitate interpretation of a) change between performance on tasks, and b) change over time when the instrument is administered on two or more occasions. With highly accurate timing and a stable platform, the TEC calculates multiple norm-referenced measures of accuracy, response time and response time variability as working memory load increases in both inhibit and no inhibit conditions.

The TEC is ideal for evaluating children and adolescents with a wide variety of developmental and acquired neurological disorders including attention disorders, learning disabilities, autism spectrum disorders and traumatic brain injuries. It may also be used to assess children with psychiatric and behavioural health concerns.

Key features:

• The program monitors accuracy and response time throughout administration to produce six accuracy scores, two response time scores and two response time variability scores for each task. Each task consists of onscreen instructions, a set of practice trials with feedback and 100 timed-interval stimuli that require responses.
• The software provides a Score Report, which displays scores and profiles from a single administration; a comprehensive Client Report, which provides interpretive statements for a single administration and a Protocol Summary Report, which summarises change over time when the instrument is administered more than once to the same test taker.