Suppressionstests

Suppressionstests are diagnostic or experimental procedures designed to assess an entity's capacity to suppress or inhibit a response, production, or perception under controlled conditions. The term is used across multiple disciplines—most often in medicine, psychology, and vision science—to describe tests that quantify how suppression operates within a system, either physiologically or cognitively.

In endocrinology, the dexamethasone suppression test (DST) evaluates cortisol production by measuring whether dexamethasone lowers cortisol levels. Variants include the overnight low-dose and the high-dose dexamethasone suppression tests. Suppression of cortisol indicates normal feedback regulation, while failure to suppress can support diagnoses such as Cushing's syndrome or certain pituitary disorders.

In psychology and neuroscience, suppression or inhibitory control is evaluated with cognitive tasks that require withholding a prepotent response. Common examples include the Stroop task, Go/No-Go tasks, and the Stop-Signal Task. These tests are used in research on attention, executive function, and various disorders affecting frontal-lobe circuits, including ADHD and compulsive behavior.

In ophthalmology and binocular vision, suppression tests assess whether the brain suppresses input from one eye to avoid diplopia or confusion. Tests such as the Worth 4-Dot test, Bagolini lenses, and other binocular assessments help diagnose strabismus and guide treatment.

Interpretation of suppressionstests depends on context, including patient cooperation, baseline abilities, and comorbid factors. They are typically part of a broader evaluation and are not definitive on their own.