Unconscious priming of task-switching generalizes to an untrained task.

Evidence suggests that subliminal stimuli can influence ostensibly volitional, executive processes but it is unclear whether this is highly task-specific. To address this we used a set-switching task. Volunteers saw a word pair and reported either if both words had the same number of syllables or if both were concrete.

Diagnostic utility of the Key Search Test as a measure of executive functions.

Background: Executive function deficits are commonly observed in many clinical populations, highlighting the importance of appropriate diagnostic tools to screen for these deficits. Most neuropsychological tests of executive function, however, are time-consuming and difficult to administer in the case of moderate to severe cognitive decline. The aim of the present study was to examine whether the Key Search Test, a short and easy to administer test, is a useful indicator of executive function deficits in a study sample with a diagnosis of cognitive impairment.