The Performance of Hyperactive and Control Preschoolers on a New Computerized Measure of Visual Vigilance: The Preschool Vigilance Task

Abstract

This study examines the ability at a new visual vigilance task, the Preschool Vigilance Task (PVT), to differentiate between hyperactive and control preschoolers. The PVT was designed to be an objective measure of attention specifically for use with the preschool‐ape population. Hyperactive and control preschoolers were tested on the PVT and the Continuous Performance Task (CPT). Results indicated that both were useful in differentiating between hyperactive and control preschoolers. Implications for the utility of the PVT and future research directions are discussed.