A New Measure of Visual Location Learning and Memory: Development and Psychometric Properties for the Brown Location Test (BLT)

Abstract

There are a variety of well-established neuropsychological tests that are helpful in identifying global and specific verbal memory deficits. In contrast, tests of visual memory have produced less consistent results likely due in part to confounding variables such as verbal encodability, administration difficulties, and insufficient differentiation of among types of visual memory. The Brown Location Test (BLT) was designed to specifically measure visual memory for location of identical objects (dots) and address limitations found in commonly employed visual memory tests. This paper describes the empirical basis for the BLT and reports the psychometric properties of the test. Results indicate good internal and alternate form reliabilities. Factor analysis of a brief test battery confirmed that BLT performance is generally independent of verbal memory and global intellectual abilities. BLT performance declined with age, but there was no association between performance and gender, education, or intellectual functioning. In view of the favorable psychometric properties observed during preliminary studies, additional normative and validation studies in healthy and patient populations are warranted.

Allocentric but not egocentric visual memory difficulties in adults with ADHD may represent cognitive inefficiency

“…Visual memory was assessed with the Brown Location Test BLT (Brown et al, 2007(Brown et al, , 2010. This test requires the subject to memorize 12 red dot locations on an asymmetric array with circles over five learning trials with follow-up short delay.…”

“…The majority of subtests have demonstrated good test-retest reliabilities (ranging from 0.78 to 0.9), however, the interference and recognition subtest scores had lower reliabilities (around 0.5) (Brown et al, 2007). The lower reliabilities on the interference trials were similar to those reported for the California Verbal Learning Test, Second Edition (Delis et al, 2000), perhaps suggesting inherent variability within interference trials rather than a problem with the test (Brown et al, 2007). Regardless, we did not include the interference or recognition subtest scores in our current analyses.…”

“…Another reason we chose to study visual memory was that we had access to a visual memory test, the Brown Location Test (BLT), which controls for attention and working memory difficulties by using five learning trials (Brown et al, 2007(Brown et al, , 2010. It also has delayed recall trials that occur 20 min after the learning trial to measure long term visual memory.…”

“…Furthermore, each individual dot is presented for 4 s which minimizes processing speed and timed visual scanning demands. The most relevant aspect to the current study is that the memory test has different delayed recall perspectives (Brown et al, 2007(Brown et al, , 2010.…”

Methylphenidate and Memory and Attention Adaptation Training for Persistent Cognitive Symptoms after Traumatic Brain Injury: A Randomized, Placebo-Controlled Trial

“…Number-Sequencing Test, and Gordon Diagnostic System Continuous Performance Test (Gordon et al, 1996). Assessments at the pre-treatment visit included the Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (The Psychological Corporation, 1999), Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III Digit Symbol-Coding and Digit Span subtests, Delis-Kaplan Executive Function System Sorting Test, Craft Story Memory Test (Craft et al, 1996), Brown Location Test (Brown et al, 2007), Grooved Pegboard Test (Lafayette Instrument, 1989), Finger Tapping Test (Reitan and Wolfson, 1993), and Thumb-Finger Sequencing Test (Saykin et al, 1995). The complete neuropsychological battery and the MASQ were repeated at post-treatment, with alternate test forms used where possible.…”