Spatial span tests (SSTs) such as the Corsi Block Test (CBT) and the SST of the Wechsler Memory Scale are widely used to assess @entity2414 . We conducted three experiments to evaluate the test-retest reliability and clinical sensitivity of a new computerized spatial span test (C-SST) that incorporates psychophysical methods to improve the precision of spatial span measurement. In Experiment 1, we analyzed C-SST test-retest reliability in 49 @entity1 who underwent three test sessions at weekly intervals. Intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC) were higher for a psychophysically derived mean span (MnS) metric (0.83) than for the maximal span and total correct metrics used in traditional spatial-span tests. Response times (ReTs) also showed high ICCs (0.93) that correlated negatively with MnS scores and correlated positively with response-time latencies from other tests of processing speed. Learning effects were insignificant. Experiment 2 examined the performance of Experiment 1 @entity1 when instructed to feign symptoms of @entity131 ( @entity131 ): 57% showed abnormal MnS z-scores. A MnS z-score cutoff of 3.0 correctly classified 36% of simulated malingerers and 91% of the subgroup of 11 control @entity1 with abnormal spans. Malingerers also made more substitution errors than control @entity1 with abnormal spans (sensitivity = 43%, specificity = 91%). In addition, malingerers showed no evidence of @entity8958 slowing, in contrast to significant abnormalities seen on other malingered tests of processing speed. As a result, differences between @entity8958 z-scores and z-scores on other processing speed tests showed very high sensitivity and specificity in distinguishing malingering and control @entity1 with either normal or abnormal spans. Experiment 3 examined C-SST performance in a group of @entity1 with predominantly mild @entity131 : neither MnS nor @entity8958 z-scores showed significant group-level abnormalities. The C-SST improves the reliability and sensitivity of spatial span testing, can accurately detect malingering, and shows that visuospatial working memory is largely preserved in @entity1 with predominantly mild @entity131 .

The Effects of Repeat Testing, Malingering, and XXXX on Computerized Measures of Visuospatial Memory Span.

@entity1 :: ('9606', 'Species') :: ['participants', 'patients'] @entity2414 :: ('MESH:D008569', 'Disease') :: ['deficits in spatial working memory'] @entity131 :: ('MESH:D001930', 'Disease') :: ['TBI', 'traumatic brain injury'] @entity8958 :: ('5979', 'Gene') :: ['ReT']
@entity131 :: (MESH:D001930,Disease) :: ['Traumatic Brain Injury']
