At Nesplora, we are committed to providing innovative neuropsychological assessment tools grounded in robust scientific research and designed according to well-established normative standards. We are proud to announce the publication of the normative study of Nesplora Executive Functions Ice Cream for adults in the esteemed journal Frontiers in Psychology. This milestone represents a significant advancement in executive function assessment, bringing us closer to democratizing more precise measurements tailored to the adult population.
Why Is This New Normative Study So Significant?
Executive functions are crucial for behavior regulation, decision-making, and adapting to various everyday situations. Assessing these functions in adults has been challenging due to a lack of sufficiently precise tools and normative data for comparison. With this new study, Ice Cream is established as a benchmark test for evaluating executive functions in adults, aligning with scientific and statistical standards that ensure the validity, reliability, and precision of the results.
The publication of this normative study enhances the resources available to psychology and neuropsychology professionals: they now have a solid reference to interpret results more accurately, comparing an individual’s performance with that of their reference group across different contexts.
Ice Cream and Executive Function Assessment
Ice Cream is a test developed by Nesplora, utilizing virtual reality to assess executive functions in an ecological and controlled environment. This approach enables a more realistic evaluation with reduced influence from external factors (such as the examinee’s potential anxiety or lack of motivation in traditional testing environments). It also minimizes the possibility of evaluator bias, whether conscious or unconscious.
This test accurately measures essential daily life skills: working memory, cognitive flexibility, inhibitory control, and planning abilities. Additionally, Ice Cream—now with adult normative data—offers direct benefits for professionals:
Enhanced Diagnostic Precision: With specific normative data for adults, professionals can rely more confidently on Ice Cream to accurately identify potential deviations in executive functions.
Ecological and Realistic Assessment: Thanks to virtual reality, all Nesplora tests are conducted in environments more akin to real life than conventional tests, improving result validity.
Versatility Across Fields: Ice Cream can be used for clinical diagnosis support of neuropsychological disorders, assessment of age-related cognitive decline, scientific research, and career or educational guidance.
The Significance of Publication in Frontiers in Psychology
The publication of this study in Frontiers in Psychology is a testament to the quality and rigor of the work conducted. Frontiers is one of the most prestigious scientific journals in psychology, with high standards for peer review. We are also proud that this content will gain significant visibility by being included in a high-impact journal, allowing more neuropsychology and cognitive assessment professionals to become aware of Ice Cream and benefit from its use in both clinical and research settings.
Rebón-Ortiz, F., Areces, D., Saura-Carrasco, M., Flores, C., Rodríguez, C., Díaz-Orueta, U., Climent, G., & Chicchi Giglioli, I. A. (2025). Nesplora Ice Cream test: A normative study of a virtual reality-based executive function assessment in adults. Frontiers in Psychology, 16. https://doi.org/10.3389/fpsyg.2025.1561802
A Step Forward in Advancing Neuropsychological Assessment
At Nesplora, we firmly believe in the importance of continually advancing the development of innovative tools that enhance neuropsychological assessment and treatment. This new normative study is a significant step in that direction, and we are confident it will have a positive impact on both clinical practice and research.
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