Initial Category Cues and Recognition Memory Foils for the Cognistat Verbal Memory Alternate Word List

Abstract

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.

Key words:

• alternate
• Cognistat
• memory
• neurobehavioral

Notes

^a 0.2% (n = 1) of this sample did not answer the question requesting racial/ethnic affiliation.

*p < .005.

^a The order of the target word placement within our recognition list corresponds to target word placement within the primary word list.

^b Most frequent recognition memory foil generated by participants.

^c Second most frequent recognition memory foil generated by participants.