Cognitive Assessment using Mobile Phones

Test of memory, attention and reaction time are used for many purposes, including research on patients with brain injury, stroke or cognitive impairment, and assessment of impairment due to alcohol, drugs, or lack of sleep. These tests can be done in the lab, usually using a computer, or in the field, sometimes user paper-based tests or and sometimes with portable computers or other electronic devices

Electronic devices don't get much more portable than mobile phones, and we have been using them as platforms for cognitive assessments for a few years now. The screen size does place some limitations on the tests that can be administered, but a broad range of tests can be effectively used, and these cover most of the functions of interest. The test illustrated on the left is the arrow flanker task. The response is a left or right key press corresponding  to the direction of the central arrow. There are several advantages to the ultra-portable approach: Assessments can be made in an everyday life setting - home or work - and the unfamiliar and artificial surroundings of the lab avoided. Assessments can be made frequently, and at different times during the day, and a profile of the person's performance built up Links between different aspects of a person's life can be studied. If you miss breakfast does it have an effect on your memory and concentration later in the day? What about if you are stressed, or didn't sleep well last night. Or maybe you have had a few drinks. How much does that really affect you? Data can be transmitted over the network after each assessment, so that data are promptly available for review,

The everyday life approach to cognitive assessment is similar to the use of Ecological Momentary Assessment to measure subjective experiences. An example of this is the recently completed study looking at effects of alcohol consumption on performance

Tests can run on any Java® phone as well as on Android smartphones. Large numbers of people already own suitable phones and are familiar with using them. Thus large scale studies involving data collection during the person's daily life are practical. The phone can automatically transmit results to the server allowing data to be reviewed immediately. The main limitation is screen size, but all the core tests can be run on a standard mobile phone. 

The application requirements depend on the specific study protocol, so we generally provide solutions tailored to a user's needs.  A broad selection of tests is available for inclusion, or additional tests may be developed to meet a user's requirements.  A sample application for the Java® phone is available for evaluation, and can be obtained by clicking here.  

As well as the everyday life/EMA paradigm, the portable testing approach may also be useful in other ways:

• Field studies, where investigators take phones into a research location such as a pub, club, or workplace, and recruit participants within that setting. Unlike the everyday setting, the testing is supervised, and in general these are cross-sectional studies - a single assessment of function is made. An example is the field study on alcohol carried out in Edinburgh pubs
• Laboratory-type studies where for one reason or another a PC-based test system is not suitable. We cal this the Portable Laboratory. Data are typically stored on the phone and uploaded to a PC, rather than transmitted via the network. Here is some more on the mobile laboratory.

Such testing may use mobile phones. Tests are also available for tablet computers, which offer a broader range of tests due to the larger screen size.