Processing Speed Index (PSI) Flashcards
7 cards from real WAIS practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.
Read the first 7 Processing Speed Index (PSI) flashcards as text
Which brain region is MOST associated with the neural substrate underlying processing speed as measured by the PSI?
Answer: Myelinated white matter tracts
Processing speed is strongly linked to the integrity and myelination of white matter tracts that support rapid neural signaling.
A PSI score of 85 falls at approximately which percentile rank?
Answer: 16th percentile
A score of 85 is one standard deviation below the mean (100), which corresponds to approximately the 16th percentile.
Which condition is MOST likely to produce a profile where the PSI is significantly higher than all other WAIS indexes?
Answer: Dyslexia with intact perceptual and motor speed
Dyslexia primarily impairs phonological and verbal processes; motor and visual scanning speed can remain relatively intact, producing a relatively higher PSI.
The Cancellation subtest on the WAIS-IV includes two trials: one with randomly arranged stimuli and one with structured rows. What is the MAIN purpose of having both formats?
Answer: To assess how stimulus organization affects scanning efficiency
Comparing random versus structured Cancellation trials reveals whether organization of the visual field aids or does not affect the examinee's scanning speed.
When a PSI score is significantly lower than the General Ability Index (GAI), it most commonly suggests:
Answer: Processing speed is a relative weakness compared to higher-level reasoning abilities
A GAI > PSI discrepancy indicates that higher-order reasoning and verbal abilities outpace the examinee's speed of information processing.
What does a high error rate on the Coding subtest despite fast completion suggest about the examinee?
Answer: Impulsive response style or poor attention to accuracy under speed pressure
Many errors with fast completion suggest the examinee prioritized speed over accuracy, indicating impulsivity or poor self-monitoring.
Which of the following BEST illustrates a valid accommodation when administering the PSI to an individual with a physical hand tremor?
Answer: Use Symbol Search instead of Coding since it requires less fine motor precision
Symbol Search requires only a checkmark rather than precise symbol copying, reducing the confound of fine motor tremor on processing speed measurement.