An automated pipeline for lifespan neuropsychological assessment of executive functions and metacognition based on multi-layer neuropsychological digital twins

An efficient and standardized neuropsychological assessment of higher-order cognition is central to both research and clinical practices. However, existing tools are typically limited to isolated tasks, manual scoring, aggregated analysis, with little or no integration of computational modeling. These constraints reduce reproducibility, scalability, and translational potential across research and clinical contexts. We present an automated pipeline grounded in a multi-layer neuropsychological digital-twin framework that unifies task administration, automatic scoring, extended data analysis, computational modeling, and readable reporting. Specifically, the pipeline provides (I) administration of standard neuropsychological tasks of executive functions and metacognition, including the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST), the metacognitive WCST (meta-WCST), and an original developmental version (Dev-meta-WCST), (II) fully automated scoring of classical indices and trial-by-trial trends, (III) computational modeling of individual traits and dynamics, (IV) generation of readable individual multi-layer neuropsychological digital twins and group-level reports composed of aggregated data, trial-by-trial dynamics, temporal data, and model-based profiles. We illustrate the pipeline functionalities (task-specific automation, sensitivity to individual profiles, lifespan robustness, and model-based interpretability) using four representative single cases: two adults performing the WCST and meta-WCST and two children, with typical development and ADHD, performing the Dev-meta-WCST. The pipeline, of which a preliminary version is already shared on EBRAINS-Italy, reflects a starting point of an enabling technology for individualized, lifespan profiling across several contexts.