Applied Sciences (Jan 2023)

TeleFE: A New Tool for the Tele-Assessment of Executive Functions in Children

  • Carlotta Rivella,
  • Costanza Ruffini,
  • Clara Bombonato,
  • Agnese Capodieci,
  • Andrea Frascari,
  • Gian Marco Marzocchi,
  • Alessandra Mingozzi,
  • Chiara Pecini,
  • Laura Traverso,
  • Maria Carmen Usai,
  • Paola Viterbori

DOI
https://doi.org/10.3390/app13031728
Journal volume & issue
Vol. 13, no. 3
p. 1728

Abstract

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In recent decades, the utility of cognitive tele-assessment has increasingly been highlighted, both in adults and in children. The present study aimed to present TeleFE, a new tool for the tele-assessment of EF in children aged 6–13. TeleFE consists of a web platform including four tasks based on robust neuropsychological paradigms to evaluate inhibition, interference suppression, working memory, cognitive flexibility, and planning. It also includes questionnaires on EF for teachers and parents, to obtain information on the everyday functioning of the children. As TeleFE allows the assessment of EF both remotely and in-person, a comparison of the two modalities was conducted by administering TeleFE to 1288 Italian primary school children. A series of ANOVA was conducted, showing no significant effect of assessment modality (p > 0.05 for all the measures). In addition, significant differences by class emerged for all the measures (p p = 0.008 for planning). Finally, a significant sex effect emerged for inhibition (p p = 0.013) and cognitive flexibility (p < 0.001), with boys showing a lower inhibition and faster reaction times. The implications of these results along with the indications for the choice of remote assessment are discussed.

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