A short version of the Stroop test: Normative data in an Italian population sample

The Stroop Colour Word Test is a neuropsychological tool widely used in clinical practice to assess selective attention, cognitive flexibility and sensitivity to interference, abilities which have been linked to the frontal lobes. The aim of the present study was to collect normative data in an Italian population sample (including 248 participants well distributed across sex, education and age categories) on a shortened version of the Stroop test developed by Venneri et al. in 199320, which is widely used in the assessment of patients with dementia. The Stroop effect was evaluated by computing a time interference effect (based on execution time) and an error interference effect (based on number of errors). Multiple regression analysis revealed significant effects of age and educational level on performance but no effect of sex. Inferential cut-offs have been determined and equivalent scores computed. The availability of equivalent scores for the Stroop test will prove useful in the clinical evaluation of patients' cognitive profiles. It will be, therefore, possible to compare performance on the Stroop test with that on other neuropsychological tests for which normative values collected with similar methods are already available for the Italian population.