CANTAB
The Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) is a suite of computerised, non-verbal cognitive tests developed by Cambridge Cognition. It is touchscreen-based, language-independent, and translationally validated across species (human adults, children, non-human primates, and rodents).
Core Tests for Depression Research
CANTAB offers a six-test battery specifically designed for mood disorder research, covering executive function, memory, attention, emotion recognition, and decision-making under risk:
| Test | Cognitive Domain | Depression Relevance |
|---|---|---|
| one-touch-stockings-cambridge | Executive function, spatial planning | Planning deficits common in mood disorders |
| delayed-match-to-sample | Visual recognition memory | Memory impairment in depression |
| emotion-recognition-task | Emotion identification, implicit processing | Negative bias in depression |
| spatial-working-memory | Visuospatial working memory | Moderate working memory impairments |
| rapid-visual-information-processing | Sustained attention | Attentional deficits in depression |
| cambridge-gambling-task | Decision-making under risk | Risk-sensitive impairment |
Key Strengths
- Discriminates bipolar disorder from unipolar depression at the neuropsychological level (Muralidharan et al., 2015)
- Differentiates medication effects — sensitive to different pharmacological profiles (Clark et al., 2011)
- Avoids floor/ceiling effects through carefully ranged task difficulties
- Clinically relevant — cognitive performance correlates with quality of life, even early in bipolar disorder (Mackala et al., 2014)
- Fully non-verbal — no reading or language required, enabling cross-species translational research