The Trail Making Test (TMT) is a popular and frequently used neuropsychological test to detect cognitive deficits in stroke, traumatic brain injuries and dementia. It has been associated with measures of speed, visuo-spatial skills, general fluid cognitive abilities, cognitive flexibility, set-switching, motor skills and dexterity.
The tests consist of two parts. Part A requires an individual to draw lines sequentially connecting 25 encircled numbers distributed on a sheet of paper as quickly as possible without lifting the pen from the paper. Task requirements are similar for part B where the individual must alternate between numbers and letters (e.g., 1, A, 2, B, 3, C, …. 13).
While part A estimates principally visuo-perceptual abilities, part B mainly reflects working memory and secondarily task-switching ability. Subtracting performance of part A from B, visuo-perceptual and working memory demands are minimized, providing a better indicator of executive functioning.
The total time taken to complete each part provides the test score. If the participant is unable to complete the test within 300 seconds, the score is recorded as 301 seconds.
In the paper-based test version, the participant uses a pen/pencil to connect the circles containing the numbers or letters on a white paper. The examiner/researcher scores the test manually making use of the overall time taken and number of errors made by the participant. This android-based TMT App was developed for use on a mobile/tablet using similar display and usability format.
The validity of the TMT App has been published in a Scientific Journal after conducting a study comparing it with the paper and pencil version.
- Rohit Verma, Ishita Dhyani. Development and validation of an android-based Trail Making Test application (TMT App) for cognitive assessment in healthy and depressed individuals. Indian Journal of Psychological Medicine 2024.

We provide support to patients and researchers at the Brain Mapping Lab, Department of Psychiatry, All India Institute of Medical Sciences (AIIMS), New Delhi, India.