Visual form discrimination as a multiple-choice visual memory test: Illustrative data

Abstract

Assessment of visual memory is typically hampered in patients with upper extremity motor impairment because most measures of this skill require a drawing response. To allow motor-free assessment of visual memory, we employed the stimuli from the Visual Form Discrimination Test in a manner similar to that originally suggested by Benton. Following 10-second exposure of each of 16 target plates containing three geometric shapes, subjects selected the identical match from a response plate containing four sets of shapes. Items failed under “memory” conditions were readministered under a “match” format to assist the examiner in determining the possible contribution of visual-perceptual deficit to poor visual memory performance. We provide data (mean = 12.6 correct; SD = 1.90) on 51 control subjects (21 males, 30 females; mean age = 36.6 years; mean education = 14.8 years) and report a significant negative correlation between visual memory performance and age (r = -.43; p < .01) as well as positive correlations of visual memory with education (r = .33; p < .05) and verbal intelligence as indexed by age-corrected WAIS-R Vocabulary score (r = .35; p < .05). For clinical purposes, cut-off scores of 9 of 16 correct or 21 of 32 points (using the revised scoring system) are recommended for individuals of this age and educational background.