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Measuring Processing Speed

Meaning

Measuring Processing Speed is the clinical and scientific assessment of how quickly an individual can execute a simple, repetitive cognitive task, which accurately reflects the efficiency of fundamental brain function. This metric is a core component of any comprehensive cognitive evaluation, indicating the speed at which information is perceived, understood, and responded to, independent of complex reasoning or accumulated knowledge. Declines in processing speed are often one of the earliest and most sensitive signs of neurobiological changes, including those related to hormonal imbalances or chronic metabolic stress. It is a key measure of neural efficiency.