Initial category cues and recognition memory foils for the Cognistat Verbal Memory alternate word list.

The Cognistat is a widely used screening instrument for the evaluation of higher cerebral functioning. The Verbal Memory subtest contains an alternate word list without the cuing (i.e., category prompts) and recognition stimuli presented with the primary word list. This leaves the examiner responsible for creating nonstandardized category cues and recognition memory foils when the alternate task is employed. We developed a categorization questionnaire to obtain cuing and recognition items for the alternate word list. Two groups of participants were evaluated: a young sample (n = 518) and an elderly sample (n = 43). Data for the cuing and recognition phases of the alternate verbal memory word list are presented.

Rectifying the inconsistent administration procedures of the Cognistat constructional ability subtest.

The Cognistat is one of the most widely used psychometric instruments to quickly assess higher cerebral functioning. However, when administered according to the manual, the constructional ability subtest yields results that are confounded by other cognitive processes, as well as blemished by intra-test inconsistencies. Such issues decrease the validity, and ultimately the utility, of this screening device. Suggestions for rectifying these shortcomings are presented.