Naturalistic assessments across the lifespan: Systematic review of inhibition measures in ecological settings

TL;DR

This paper reviews naturalistic methods for assessing inhibitory control, showing they are feasible and comparable to traditional methods.

Contribution

The paper systematically reviews naturalistic inhibition assessments and highlights their methodological diversity and feasibility.

Findings

Naturalistic tasks showed performance comparable to standardized tasks.

Tasks were generally feasible and acceptable for participants.

There was considerable heterogeneity in task types and psychometric reporting.

Abstract

Inhibitory control is essential for our everyday lives. Despite this, it is commonly assessed using non-naturalistic assessments. In this systematic review, we argue for the importance of taking an ecological approach to assess cognition. The aims are to present the state-of-knowledge in naturalistic assessments of inhibitory control, focusing on their methodological characteristics, including psychometric properties and user experience. PubMed, PsycINFO and Web of Science were searched until September 2024. Studies were included if they used at least one naturalistic method of assessing inhibition. The included studies (N=64) were grouped into three methodological categories: gamification, virtual reality, and brief, repeated assessments in participants’ usual environment in the form of ecological momentary assessments. Sample sizes spanned three orders of magnitude (N=12–22,098). We report considerable heterogeneity in the types of tasks used, and the psychometric details reported. Nonetheless, naturalistic tasks were generally comparable with standardised equivalents, although some tasks assessed mixed-domain constructs. Tasks were feasible and acceptable for participants, with generally high completion rates and engagement. Recommendations for future research are discussed.

•Gamified, virtual reality and ecological momentary tasks were included.•Considerable heterogeneity in the types of tasks, and psychometric details reported.•Generally, performance on naturalistic tasks comparable to standardised tasks.•Naturalistic tasks were feasible and acceptable for most participants.•Careful development and implementation of naturalistic tasks is needed.

Gamified, virtual reality and ecological momentary tasks were included.

Considerable heterogeneity in the types of tasks, and psychometric details reported.

Generally, performance on naturalistic tasks comparable to standardised tasks.

Naturalistic tasks were feasible and acceptable for most participants.

Careful development and implementation of naturalistic tasks is needed.

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