The Rey-Osterrieth complex figure test (ROCF) is a neuropsychological test extensively used in clinical practice to investigate visuospatial constructional functions, visuographic memory and some aspects of planning and executive function. The aim of the present study was to collect normative values in an Italian normal population sample (n=280) for the direct copying and delayed (10 min) reproduction of the ROCF. Multiple regression analysis revealed significant effects of age and education on performance of both copying tasks, whereas sex appeared to affect only performance on the delayed copying task. Inferential cut-offs have been determined and equivalent scores computed. The availability of equivalent scores for the ROCF will prove useful in clinical assessment since it allows the comparison of a subject's performance on the ROCF with that on other neuropsychological tests for which normative values collected with similar methods are already available for the Italian population.

Standardized norms for the Freedman version of the CDT were collected in a large sample of healthy individuals. No adjustments were required for scores on the free-drawn condition, whereas raw scores on the predrawn and examiner-drawn conditions and the total score needed adjustments to account for age effects. The availability of standardized norms for this version of the CDT could increase the use of this comprehensive tool in the detection of dementia.

The Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST), a shortened version of the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test, proposed by Nelson in 1976 is a neuropsychological test that is widely used in clinical settings for the evaluation of executive functions in patients with focal, traumatic and degenerative brain diseases. Despite its frequent use, normative data for the MCST are scant. The aim of this study was to collect normative data for the MCST on a sample including 248 healthy individuals ranging from 20 to 90 years of age and equally distributed for education level and sex (124 males and 124 females). Performance on the MCST was scored by computing the number of categories achieved by a participant, and the number of perseverative errors. Multiple regression analyses revealed a significant effect of age and education on the number of categories and perseverative errors but no effect of sex. Cut-off scores were then determined and equivalent scores computed for both the number of categories and the perseverative errors. The availability of normative data for the MCST will be very valuable in clinical settings for testing patients with focal, traumatic and degenerative brain diseases. The use of reference norms will permit a better characterisation of a patient's impaired and spared abilities.

A shorter four-set (A, B, C, D) version of Raven's progressive matrices 1938 (PM38) has gained increasing use in neuropsychological assessment. No normative data spanning across a wide age range are, however, available. This study collected norms for the shorter version of PM38, established an inferential cut-off value and derived equivalent scores in a sample of 248 individuals from 20 to 89 years of age, evenly distributed across sex, age and education levels. Results showed significant effects of age and education but no effect of sex on performance. These normative data will complement existing norms for other tests, will increase the wealth of neuropsychological tools for which normative data are available for the Italian population, and may be useful in the early detection of individuals at risk of developing dementia.