Selective Attention Test

At Nesplora, we use virtual reality to obtain more precise data that reflects real daily life, assessing different cognitive skills with advanced neuropsychological tests.

Tests to measure selective attention

De 6 a 16 años

Mayores de 16 años

see AQUARIUM

Selective attention is an essential cognitive function that allows us to focus on relevant stimuli while ignoring distractors. Alterations in selective attention are common in conditions such as ADHD, anxiety, or brain injuries.

Traditional tools like the d2 test of attention have been widely used for decades, but they often lack ecological validity. Nesplora’s VR-based tests overcome these limitations by simulating real-life environments, making the evaluation more accurate and representative of daily functioning.

Technical features of Nesplora's Selective Attention Test

Attention Kids aula

Assessment of attentional processes, impulsivity, and motor activity.
Test duration: between 18-22 minutes.
Continuous performance test for ages 6 to 16 years.
The CPT test with Nesplora Aula is applied to conditions such as anxiety, behavioral and social skills problems, reading and writing difficulties, learning disorders, and brain injury.

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Nesplora Attention Adults Aquarium

Assessment of attentional processes and working memory in adults.
Test duration: between 18-22 minutes.
Continuous performance test for ages 6 to 90 years.
The CPT test with Nesplora Aquarium is applied to conditions such as depressive and anxiety disorders, adult ADHD, eating disorders, bipolar disorder, psychotic disorders like schizophrenia, acquired brain injuries, neurodegenerative diseases

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Discover our Selective Attention Test reports

Download clear, automatic, and customizable reports with immediate results and visual data interpretation.

Inmediate

Automatic

customizable

Explanatory tables and graphs

Simple vocabulary

Interpretation of data

Automatic

Inmediate

Customizable

Explanatory tables and graphs

Simple vocabulary

Interpretation of data

Minimum requirements

Related Neuropsychological Tests

The following are the related neuropsychological tests from Nesplora.

Continuous Performance Test

The CPT is a tool for assessing sustained attention, impulsivity, and inhibitory control.

Sustained Attention Test

The sustained attention test allows for the objective and detailed recording of key variables in attentional performance.

ADHD Assessment Tool

The ADHD test measures key functions such as sustained attention, impulsivity, working memory, and cognitive flexibility.

Executive Functions Test

The executive functions test evaluates different executive components in controlled situations.

Memory Assessment Tool

Memory assessment tests analyze different types of memory through immersive tasks.

Frequently Asked Questions

Let’s look at the most frequently asked questions about selective attention tests.

What is a selective attention test with virtual reality?

A selective attention test with VR is a neuropsychological tool designed to evaluate attentional processing in conditions that simulate real-life situations. Unlike traditional methods such as the d2 test, which relies on paper-based tasks and measures visual attention under time pressure, Nesplora’s VR-based tools recreate immersive scenarios—such as a classroom or an aquarium—where the person interacts with stimuli in a more natural way. Studies have shown that immersive environments improve ecological validity and increase engagement during testing. With VR, professionals can track not only performance, but also omission errors, commission errors, and reaction time variability, all compared against normative samples for accurate clinical interpretation.

How to measure selective attention with our test?

With Nesplora, once the person being assessed puts on the VR headset, they are immersed in a task where they must respond to relevant visual or auditory stimuli while ignoring irrelevant ones. At the end of the test (average duration: 18–22 minutes), the system automatically generates a detailed report including:

Omission errors (distraction indicators)
Commission errors (linked to impulsivity)
Average reaction time
Reaction time variability

Compared with paper-based tools like the d2 test, which require manual interpretation, Nesplora reports are automatic, immediate, and include explanatory graphs and clinical recommendations—helping professionals make faster and more reliable decisions.

What are some examples of tasks in our selective attention test with virtual reality?

Children and adolescents (6–16 years): Nesplora Attention Kids Aula The environment simulates a real classroom, where the participant is seated at a desk facing the blackboard. Head movements are tracked by the VR headset, creating the sensation of truly being in the classroom. A virtual teacher gives instructions, while classmates behave dynamically and realistically. The task consists of pressing a button when a specific target stimulus appears, or when instructed to respond to non-target stimuli. To increase ecological validity, common classroom distractors are included—such as a car passing outside, a classmate calling the student’s name, or the janitor knocking on the door. This setup reflects real-life attentional demands in an academic context.
Adults (16–90 years): Nesplora Attention Adults Aquarium The participant is immersed in a 360º aquarium under the premise that it is their first day working there and they must monitor the tanks. During the task, the person must press a button when they see or hear specific fish or words, depending on the instruction. The environment includes realistic distractors such as visitors walking around or announcements over the public address system. These elements make the test more engaging and ensure that attention is measured under conditions that closely resemble everyday challenges.