Neurocognitive Disorders 593TABLE 1 Neurocognitive domains
Cognitive domain Examples of symptoms or  observations Examples of assessments 
Complex attention 
(sustained attention, 
divided attention, 
selective attention, 
processing speed)Major:  Has increased difficulty in environments with multiple 
stimuli (TV, radio, conversation); is easily distracted by compet-
ing events in the environment. Is unable to attend unless input is 
restricted and simplified. Has difficulty holding new information 
in mind, such as recalling phone numbers or addresses just given, 
or reporting what was just said. Is unable to perform mental cal-
culations. All thinking takes longer than usual, and components 
to be processed must be simplified to one or a few.
Mild:  Normal tasks take longer than previously. Begins to find 
errors in routine task s; finds work needs more double-checking 
than previously. Thinking is ea sier when not competing with 
other things (radio, TV, other conversations, cell phone, driving).Sustained attention:  Maintenance of attention over time (e.g., pressing 
a button every time a tone is heard, and over a period of time). 
Selective attention:  Maintenance of attention despite competing stim-
uli and/or distractors: hearing nu mbers and letters read and asked 
to count only letters.
Divided attention:  Attending to two tasks within the same time 
period: rapidly tapping while lear ning a story being read. Process-
ing speed can be quantified on any task by timing it (e.g., time to 
put together a design of blocks; time to match symbols with num-
bers; speed in responding, such as counting speed or serial 3 
speed). 
Executive function 
(planning, decision 
making, working