The Role of Processing Speed in the Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised

Abstract

The Brief Visuospatial Memory Test – Revised (BVMT-R) is a commonly used, commercialized, assessment tool to measure visuospatial learning and memory abilities across research and clinical settings. In this study we evaluated the influence of processing speed and executive functioning on BVMT-R learning, memory, and percent retention scores. A total of 141 cognitively healthy older adults completed the BVMT-R along with measures of visuoconstructional abilities (BVMT-R copy), speeded processing (Symbol Digit Modalities Test-oral), and executive function (FAS). After controlling for age and visuoconstructional abilities, hierarchical regression models showed that the processing speed measure was a unique predictor of both BVMT-R learning and memory performances, while the executive function measure was not. The visuoconstructional measure was the only unique predictor of BVMT-R percent retention. The findings suggest that, when interpreting the BVMT-R learning and memory scores of patients who exhibit speeded processing deficits, the impact of slowed processing speed on performance should be considered.

Keywords:

• BVMT-R
• Visuospatial memory
• Speed of processing
• Executive function

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the members of the WSU Aging and Dementia Research Laboratory for their help in coordinating, collecting, and scoring the data. Portions of this research were presented at the 40th annual conference of the International Neuropsychological Society, Montreal, Quebec, Canada. This research was funded in part by grants from the Life Science Discovery Fund of Washington State; NIBIB (Grant #R01 EB009675); and NSF (Grant DGE-0900781). No financial or other relationships exist that could be interpreted as a conflict of interest pertaining to this manuscript.

Notes

1. Composite measures of processing speed (SDMT-oral, SDMT-written, and inverted Trails A), visuoconstructional skills (BVMT-R copy trial and Clox2), and executive functions (FAS, D-KEFS Category switching, D-KEFS Design Fluency) were formed as the average of the Z-scores of the component tests. The SDMT-oral raw score correlated significantly with the SDMT-written score (r = .86, p < .001) and Trails A (r = –.48, p < .001). BVMT-R copy and Clox2 raw scores were not correlated (r = .13, p = .13). The D-KEFS letter fluency raw score (FAS) correlated significantly with D-KEFS Design Fluency total correct (r = .19, p = .02), but not with the D-KEFS Category Fluency switching score (r = .14, p = .09). With the exception of the visuoconstructional composite score not being a significant unique predictor of BVMT-R learning, the pattern of findings was identical to that found with the single test scores. For BVMT-R learning, age (β = –.34, t = –3.76, p < .001) and the processing speed composite (β = .31, t = 3.21, p = .002) were significant predictors. Age (β = –.28, t = –3.13, p = .002), the processing speed composite (β = .29, t = 3.2, p = .003), and the visuoconstructional composite (β = .21, t = 2.90, p = .004) were unique predictors of BVMT-R memory. Only the visuoconstructional composite score (β = .25, t = 3.02, p = .003) was a unique predictor of BVMT-R percent retention. The executive functioning composite score was not a unique predictor for any of the BVMT-R memory measures.