Millisecond Letter Number Sequencing Test
AKA: WAIS Letter-Number-Sequencing Test
Background
The letter-number sequencing (LNS) task is a cognitive assessment used to measure verbal working memory, attention, and mental flexibility. James M. Gold and his colleagues developed the LNS in 1997 as a complex working memory task for neuropsychological research while studying cognitive deficits related to working memory and attention manipulations. The test was added as a subtest to the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) and the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children (WISC) in the same year.
The LNS presents sequences of alternating letters and digits (e.g. 'L4R1'). Participants are asked to recall the sequences under two different recall conditions:
- LNS-Forward (LNS-F): Recall the sequence in order presented ('L4R1').
- LNS-Reordered (LNS-R): Recall first the digits ordered from smallest to largest and then the letters in alphabetical order (e.g. '14LR') Under both task conditions the sequences get progressively longer with multiple trials per item, and the test stops when a person misses all trials of a given length.
Task Procedure
The Millisecond LNS runs both recall conditions, LNS-F and LNS-R, in sequence. The order of the recall conditions can be counterbalanced by groupnumber selections. All presented sequences start with a letter and alternate letters and digits. The letters are randomly drawn (without replacement) from the 26 letters of the English alphabet. All presented digits are similarly randomly drawn (without replacement) from digits 1 to 9. Each character is presented for 1 second. Stimuli can be presented visually or aurally; response input is always collected as written input via textbox input. A recall-condition specific response reminder is always provided.
Each recall condition starts with one practice trial that presents 4 characters (alternating letters and digits) and provides performance feedback. The test phase of each recall condition starts with level 2 sequences. Each level presents three trials and advances to the next level if at least one correct response is entered. Each correct response is awarded one point. The last possible level tested in each condition is level 8.
What it Measures
The LNS is a measure of (verbal) short term memory, working memory capacity, attention and cognitive flexibility.
Psychological domains
- Verbal and Numeric Short-Term Memory (Forward): Passive holding of information in working memory
- Verbal and Numeric Working Memory (Reordered): Processing of information in working memory
- Inhibition (Reordered): Suppressing the dominant (easier) Forward sequence
Main Performance Metrics
- Max Level: The maximum level achieved under each recall condition
- Total Points: The total points accumulated in each condition (Range: 0-21)
Psychiatric Conditions
The LNS is frequently used with the following clinical populations
- Schizophrenia
- Major Depressive Disorder
- Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI)
- Parkinson’s Disease (PD)
- Multiple Sclerosis (MS)
Test Variations
An auditory Letter-Number Sequencing Test similar to that found on the WAIS.
A visual Letter-Number Sequencing Test similar to that found on the WAIS.
References
Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Millisecond Letter Number Sequencing Test.
Psychological Corporation. (1997). WAIS–III administration and scoring manual. San Antonio, TX: Harcourt Brace
Emery, L., Myerson, J., Hale, S., & Zacks, Rose T. (2007). Age Differences in Item Manipulation Span: The Case of Letter–Number Sequencing. Psychology and Aging, 22(1), 75-83.
Sherer, C., Davis, J., Killilea, C., & Wall, J. (2008). Use of Letter-Number Sequencing and Digit Span to assess effort. Archives Of Clinical Neuropsychology, 23(6), 669.
Sumowski, J., Moore, N., Chiaravalloti, J., & Deluca, N. (2008). Letter-number sequencing measures both working memory and processing speed in Multiple Sclerosis. Archives Of Clinical Neuropsychology, 23(6), 699.
Murtagh, Hurley, Kinsella, Corvin, Donohoe, Gill, . . . Murphy. (2010). The Letter-Number Sequencing Test and its association with potential to work among people with psychotic illness. European Psychiatry : The Journal of the Association of European Psychiatrists, 25(2), 101-4.
Egeland, J. (2015). Measuring Working Memory With Digit Span and the Letter-Number Sequencing Subtests From the WAIS-IV: Too Low Manipulation Load and Risk for Underestimating Modality Effects. Applied Neuropsychology:Adult, Applied Neuropsychology:Adult, 24 April 2015.