Assessment of brain impairment with the rey auditory verbal learning test: A comparison with other neuropsychological measures

Abstract

In this study the effectiveness of The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) at assessing patients with mixed brain impairment was compared with that of a number of other commonly used neuropsychological measures. Subjects were 50 patients with a mixture of medically confirmed neuropathologies, and 50 controls with no evidence of neurological history. Groups were equated for age, education, and sex. The AVLT was administered as pan of a full neuropsychological battery. Results indicated that all seven AVLT recall trials and the total of Trials I-V could significantly differentiate between the two groups (p <.001). The AVLT trial V score performed best (U = 457.5, p <.0001), correctly predicting group membership for 74% of the subjects. This hit-rate was better than any other single test on the Halstead-Reitan or Dodrill batteries, and was surpassed only by the Dodrill Discrimination Index. The potential usefulness of this test as part of a neuropsychological battery is discussed.

Sensitivity to Brain Dysfunction of the Halstead-Reitan vs an Ability-Focused Neuropsychological Battery

“…This replicates prior research demonstrating equivalent, if not superior, sensitivity to brain dysfunction of non-HRB measures such as WIS subtests, and measures of memory, in comparison to HRB scores (Loring & Larrabee, 2006;Powell et al, 1991;Rohling et al, 2003). Moreover, our current results likely represent a lower-bound estimate of AFB sensitivity, given our use of older, less sensitive measures of working memory, and verbal and visual learning and memory.…”

“…Factor analysis of the HRB, WAIS-R, and Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (Wechsler, 1987; see Larrabee, 2000;Leonberger, Nicks, Larrabee, & Goldfader, 1992) showed complete overlap of the HRB subtests loading on the same factors as the WAIS-R subtests-visual problem solving, attention, and psychomotor speed-leading Loring and Larrabee (2006) to conclude that the WIS/HRB comparisons and factor analyses did not support the presence of separate ''biologic'' and ''psychometric'' intelligences. Last, both the HRB and WIS are less sensitive to brain dysfunction than measures of verbal supraspan learning and memory such as the Verbal Selective Reminding Test (VSRT; Buschke, & Fuld, 1974;Dikmen, Machamer, Winn, & Temkin, 1995) or the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT; Lezak, Howieson, & Loring, 2004;Powell, Cripe, & Dodrill, 1991;Rey, 1964). Rohling, Meyers, and Millis (2003) presented data demonstrating equivalent sensitivity to head trauma severity of the Meyers Neuropsychological Battery (MNB; an ability-focused core for a flexible battery) to an HRB augmented by additional measures of learning and memory (Dikmen et al, 1995).…”

Physical activity is unrelated to cognitive performance in pre-bariatric surgery patients

“…Total number of words correctly repeated was counted for each of the five trials. A total score was calculated using the sum of trials I-V and served as the primary outcome variable (60).…”

Systematic Literature Review and Meta-Analysis of Commercially Available Computerized Cognitive Training Among Older Adults

“…Digit Span A measure of short-term memory where participants are asked to recall a series of numbers (Mefferd et al 1966). Rey auditory verbal learning task A measure of verbal memory that detects cognitive impairment (Powell et al 1991). Memory Recall * Memory Recognition * Wechsler Memory Scale Family Pictures A measure of visual learning and memory that exhibits age effects (Dulay et al 2002;Lo et al 2012).…”