Evaluating Tests of Cognition using a Computerized Touch-Sensitive Tablet, Eye Tracking, and Functional Magnetic Resonance Imaging

Paper-based tests of cognition (such as the Trail-Making test, or TMT) have long been used in clinical and research settings to evaluate how the healthy or impaired brain supports behavioral performance. Despite widespread use, the neural correlates of such tests are poorly understood, and the tests have sensitivities and specificities that are less than desired. To address these shortcomings, a multi-modal research protocol is proposed that simultaneously combines novel tablet technology, eye tracking, and functional magnetic resonance imaging to explore the relationships between kinematic and visual behavior and neural activity associated with cognitive test performance. Protocol rationale, step-by-step methodology, and results from a representative participant are provided to demonstrate protocol validity and to illustrate the potential of exploring the kinematic, visual, and neural correlates of a representative test of cognition. The current protocol can expand the limits of existing clinical MRI neuroscience research, with implications for the future diagnosis and management of various cognitive disorders.