One Touch Stockings of Cambridge (OTS)
One Touch Stockings of Cambridge is a test of executive function, based upon the Tower of Hanoi test. It assesses both the spatial planning and the working memory subdomains.
Administration time
10 minutes
Task format
The participant is shown two displays containing three coloured balls. The displays are presented in such a way that they can be easily perceived as stacks of coloured balls held in stockings or socks suspended from a beam. This arrangement makes the 3-D concepts involved apparent to the participant and fits with the verbal instructions. There is a row of numbered boxes along the bottom of the screen. The test administrator first demonstrates to the participant how to move the balls in the lower display to copy the pattern in the upper display and completes one demonstration problem, where the solution requires one move. The participant must then complete three further problems, one each requiring two moves, three moves and four moves. Next the participant is shown further problems and must work out in their head how many moves the solutions require and then select the appropriate box at the bottom of the screen to indicate their response.
Outcome measures
Outcome measures include the number of problems solved on first choice, mean choices to correct, mean latency (speed of response) to first choice and mean latency to correct. Each of these measures may be calculated for all problems, or for problems with a specified number of moves (one-move to five or six moves).
Normative data
Please contact us to discuss your normative data requirements. Please note, we do not recommend using normative data in place of a control group.
When to use this test
We would recommend using this test to assess cognitive function in:
- Autism spectrum disorder
- Depression and affective disorders
- Epilepsy
- Huntington's disease
- Parkinson's disease
- Schizophrenia
- Traumatic brain injury
