Practice effects on commonly used measures of executive function across twelve months

Fifty men (age M = 32.50; education M = 14.98 years) were administered the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), Puff Figural Fluency Test (FFT), Verbal Concept Attainment Test (VCAT) Trail Making Test, Parts A and B (TMT), and F-A-S Verbal Fluency at baseline and 12 months later. WCST, FFT, and VCAT scores improved significantly over a 12-month interval. In contrast, TMT an d F-A-S scores did not change. Level of intellectual ability failed to mode rate the effect of previous testing upon performance. Suggestions concernin g the use of these measures in longitudinal research designs and clinical f ollow-up examinations are offered, and reliable change indices concerning t hese measures are included.