Tablet-based Assessment Protocol for Cognition (TAP-COG): Development and Preliminary Usability Testing of a Digital Neuropsychological Battery

Background : Digital assessment in neuropsychology provides advantages over traditional methods, including standardized administration, automated scoring, and enhanced ecological validity. Touchscreen tablets offer an intuitive and cost-effective interface, particularly suitable for older adults, and are increasingly used for cognitive assessment in clinical and home settings. However, tablet-based testing remains underexplored in aging populations. Methods : This paper presents the development and preliminary usability evaluation of TAP-COG, a tablet-based battery assessing processing speed, sustained attention, inhibitory control, short-term memory, and resistance to interference. TAP-COG comprises five self-administered tasks—Visual Reaction Time, Go/No-Go, Visual Recognition, Simon, and Interference—optimized for tablet interaction, requiring approximately 30 minutes to complete. Reaction times, accuracy, and errors are automatically recorded. A preliminary study with healthy adults assessed usability via the System Usability Scale. Results : All participants completed the battery independently, reporting clear instructions and ease of use; 80% rated usability as “good” to “excellent,” with no significant effects of demographics or cognitive status. Conclusions : Findings suggest high usability and acceptability, warranting further validation in larger, diverse samples.