What is the NIH Toolbox?

The NIH Toolbox app provides access to the NIH Toolbox for Assessment of Neurological and Behavioral Function, a standard set of valid, reliable and royalty-free tools for assessing cognitive, emotional, motor and sensory function. Designed to benefit all scientists interested in investigating behavioral and neurological function, the NIH Toolbox App is also relevant for students and clinicians across a broad spectrum of health research. It is particularly well-suited for measuring outcomes in longitudinal epidemiological studies along with prevention or intervention trials. The original NIH Toolbox measures were normed and validated across the lifespan in participants ages 3-85. In 2015, these tests were moved from a web-based system to an iPad app; this is known as NIH Toolbox V2.

The NIH Toolbox V3 app was released in March 2023. NIH Toolbox V3 offers a redesigned interface that incorporates input from usability and accessibility experts to enhance its user experience for both the examiners and their participants. Users will find an easy-to-navigate interface, allowing for the ready selection and administration of tests. Once the assessment is complete, results can be accessed through a Score Report or .CSV file. As part of the V3 update, a new normative sample was collected for the NIH Toolbox Cognition Tests, and the Standing Balance Test (Motor Domain). A total of 3,900 participants ages 3–85+ were collected and their demographics were representative of the 2020 US Census. Data collection was performed by trained examiners across the US with 17% of cases collected in the Northeast, 36% in the South, 23% in the Midwest, and 24% in the West. Users will also find updates on norm calculations for the NIH Toolbox V3 Cognition Tests and the Standing Balance Test, which have continuous norms that use chronological age in years, half-years, or quarteryears, depending on the participant’s age. Changesensitive scores are available for core Cognition Tests, as well as a norming approach that is based on the change-sensitive scores. For other tests, in the Emotion, Motor, and Sensation Domains, the normative data was pulled forward from V2. Users will find other updates across these domains, such as a new scoring engine for Emotion Computer Adaptive Tests (CAT) which will allow for shorter, more targeted administrations. Please see the NIH Toolbox V3 Manuals for more detailed information.