Clinical utility of considering Digits Forward and Digits Backward as separate components of the wechsler adult intelligence Scale-Revised

Abstract

This study investigated the utility of considering Digits Forward (DF) and Digits Backward (DB) as separate components of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale‐Revised (WAIS‐R). Protocols of WAIS‐Rs, Peabody Picture Vocabulary Tests‐Revised (PPVT‐Rs), and Standard Progressive Matrices (SPMs) were examined (N = 50). Pearson correlations of Forward and Backward digit repetition and scores from PPVT‐Rs and SPMs were calculated. Repetitions of DF were correlated significantly (p < .01) with SPM performance. Repetitions of DB were correlated significantly with performance on the PPVT‐R (p < .02), although a stronger correlation was obtained between DB and SPM performance (p < .001). These findings indicate that although DF and DB tasks are related, the combination of these tasks into a single score might obscure important information.

Acute loss of spatial navigational skills in a case of a right posterior hippocampus stroke

“…Verbal memory was assessed with a 6-word list administered over three test trials. Immediate free recall was low [4,5]; after a delay free recall was very impaired (2/6, correct). However, perfect performance was noted on the delayed recognition test condition suggesting no primary amnesia for verbal information.…”

“…Virtually all of the patient's responses occurred in the first 15 s of the 60 s allotted for this test suggesting problems with mental search. Span for digits [4] was 6 forward but only 2-3 backward; in the backwards test condition there was considerable intra-test scatter and perseveration. Verbal memory was assessed with a 6-word list administered over three test trials.…”

Cognitive Functioning in School-Aged Children With Vertically Acquired HIV Infection Being Treated With Highly Active Antiretroviral Therapy (HAART)

“…Neither the total Digit Span scaled score nor span length on Digits Forward were related to immune system variables. This is consistent with past research that has attested to the differences underlying the two components of the subtest (Banken, 1985;Dobbs, Dobbs, & Kiss, 2001;Hale, Hoeppner, & Fiorello, 2002). Specifically, it has been argued that the forward task is a measure of general attention, sequencing, and immediate auditory memory.…”

Aspects of Attention Predict Real-World Task Performance in Alzheimer's Disease

“…Furthermore, previous clinical investigations assessing the Digit Span’s ability to identify brain damage found that separation of the Digit Span task into Forward and Backward components yielded the most sensitive results (Leskela, Hietanen, Kalska, et al, 1999; Banken, 1985; Diller & Weinberg, 1972). Although we did not specifically test the hypothesis that Digit Span Backward is more sensitive in its ability to identify brain damage, our findings do support the notion that Digit Span Backward is a more complex attentional task which accounts for greater portions and wider ranges of daily functional abilities than the Digit Span Forward subtask.…”