Planning or Something Else? Examining Neuropsychological Predictors of Zoo Map Performance

Abstract

The Zoo Map Test of the Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome battery is often applied to measure planning ability as part of executive function. Successful performance on this test is, however, dependent on various cognitive functions, and deficient Zoo Map performance does therefore not necessarily imply selectively disrupted planning abilities. To address this important issue, we examined whether planning is still the most important predictor of Zoo Map performance in a heterogeneous sample of neurologic and psychiatric outpatients (N = 71). In addition to the Zoo Map Test, the patients completed other neuropsychological tests of planning, inhibition, processing speed, and episodic memory. Planning was the strongest predictor of the total raw score and inappropriate places visited, and no additional contribution of other cognitive scores was found. One exception to this was the total time, which was associated with processing speed. Overall, our findings indicate that the Zoo Map Test is a valid indicator of planning ability in a heterogeneous patient sample.

Key words:

• assessment
• Behavioral Assessment of the Dysexecutive Syndrome
• executive functions
• neuropsychological test
• predictors
• processing speed

Notes

Note. This table includes the performance of the 71 patients, expressed as means (SD) (range) with the exception of the Zoo Map error scores, which reflect the number of participants who made no error, a single error, or more than one error. The Zoo Map total raw score, RAVLT, ROCFT, TOL, and KST indexes reflect the total number of points or correct responses participants obtained. The Zoo Map difference score reflects the difference between the raw scores of the unstructured first and the structured second card. The Zoo Map planning and total time, Stroop, and TMT-A measures reflect time indexes. The Mazes subtest reflects the number of errors. KST = Key Search Test; RAVLT = Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; ROCFT = Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test; Stroop W = Stroop Word card; Stroop C = Stroop Color card; Stroop CW/C = Stroop Color–Word card divided by Stroop Color card; TMT = Trail-Making Test; TOSSA = Test of Sustained Selective Attention; TOL = Tower of London.

KST = Key Search Test; RAVLT = Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test; ROCFT = Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test; Stroop W = Stroop Word card; Stroop C = Stroop Color card; Stroop CW/C = Stroop Color–Word card divided by Stroop Color card; TMT = Trail-Making Test; TOSSA = Test of Sustained Selective Attention; TOL = Tower of London; ZMT = Zoo Map Test.

*p < .05. **p < .01. ***p < .001.

Note. With the exception of the speed domain, a higher domain score represents better test performance.

*p < .05. **p < .01.