Classic neuro psychological tests

Although Metrisquare offers many new tests in its DigiDiag Test System, classic tests are of course offered as well. Users can rely on many years of research and experience with such tests.

Digital version of the Block Tapping Task.

Classic neuropsychological tests

Via DigiDiag

Trail Making Test (TMT)

The Trail Making Test is a neuropsychological test of visual attention and task rotation. It consists of two parts in which the subject is instructed to connect a series of points as quickly as possible while maintaining accuracy. It can provide information about visual search speed, scanning, processing speed, mental flexibility and executive functioning.

The time is being recorded. The TMT aims to investigate divided attention and cognitive flexibility.

Example and additional information

Trailmaking-TMT-B-Example

The TMT consists of part A and part B. In part A the intention is for the client to draw a line, without removing the pen from the sheet, between all the scrambled numbers, from lowest to highest and in the correct order.

Part B contains both numbers and letters. The client is supposed to draw a line again from the first number, then the first letter of the alphabet, then the second number and the second letter of the alphabet and so on (1-A-2-B-3-C ).

In the report, the results are automatically compared with normative data collected by Schmand, Houx and De Koning, 2012; n = 478; 17-90 years old. Furthermore, the drawings are automatically saved. Timestamps also indicate the time of each response.

Rey Complex Figure Test

The Rey Complex Figure Test (RCF) is a neuropsychological test in which the patient is asked to reproduce a complex line drawing, first by freehand copying (recognition) and then drawing it from memory (recall).

Many different cognitive skills are required for correct performance, and the test therefore allows the evaluation of different functions, such as visuospatial skills, memory, attention, planning and working memory (executive functions).

With our tablet-based digital version of the Rey figure, the drawing can be replayed for later analysis.

Additional information

In this test, the subject is asked to draw a complex figure. The drawn figure is assessed on the basis of a scoring system with 36 points.

Because the drawing can be replayed as a video at a later time, it is therefore possible to mark the test at a later time.

Taylor Complex Figure

The Taylor Complex Figure is an alternative to the Rey Complex Figure. The test can be used as a repeat measurement of a previous reduction of the Rey Complex Figure: the difficulty is comparable, but the subject cannot rely on Rey’s previously learned figure.

Scoring and interpretation of the test is simplified by the ability to replay the drawing as a movie. In addition, time-bound automatic color changes ensure that the construct can be clearly seen afterwards.

Example and additional information

In 1969 Laughlin B. Taylor developed this second complex figure that is similar to Rey’s Complex Figure and can therefore be used to eliminate the memory effect in a second evaluation.

A digitized tablet-based version of this test is available in the DigiDiag Test System. In the test system, own standards are available for digital sampling on a tablet.

The following figure shows the scoring system, as well as automatic color coding to indicate the sequence of processing.

TaylorComplexFigure

Bells Cancellation Task

The Bells test is a classic Cancellation Task that allows for a quantitative and qualitative assessment of visual neglect. The automatically generated report shows the number of omissions and the balance between errors left and right. Also, the Cancellation Center (CoC) is automatically calculated and displayed in the report.

Example and additional information

The automatically generated report allows a comparison with the standards of Vaes, Schevernels & Oostra (2014). Controls: n = 20, m = 61.45 years old (SD = 9.37). RH patients: n = 20, m = 61.65 (SD = 9.85).

View a sample report of the Bells Cancellation here.

BellsCancellationReportPicture

Clock Drawing Task (CDT)

The Clock Drawing Task is a classic task that was originally developed to assess visual constructive capabilities. The test was later expanded to investigate cognitive impairment of functioning, spatial orientation disorders and neglect of, for example, a half of the body.

In the first part of this test, the patient is asked to place the numbers on the dial of a clock in the correct place. Subsequently, the patient has to place the hands at specific times.

Block Tapping Task

The Corsi block-tapping task is a widely used test to assess visuospatial working memory.

In this test, blocks light up in increasingly longer series. The patient is asked to repeat the sequence. The patient does this in the DigiDiag test system on the tablet.

The software automatically determines in the background whether the sequence is repeated correctly.

If the patient repeats the series incorrectly twice within the same span, the task is automatically terminated.

Example and additional information

DigiDiag offers several well-known block tapping tasks. The automatically generated reports show the series and the responses, the time and the number of correct responses, including the norms (Claessen et al., 2014; Kessels et al., 2008).

View an example of the Block Tapping Task on the examiner screen below.

BlockTapping_1