Visual reproduction test in normal elderly: Influence of schooling and visual task complexity

Abstract

Tests of visual reproduction are used to assess visual memory. However, when the test is based on geometrical elements results could be influenced by schooling.ObjectiveTo evaluate the influence of different schooling levels on performance of a visual reproduction task.MethodsA sample of 253 individuals (66 male and 187 female), aged 60 to 92 years were evaluated on a visual reproduction task comprising three geometric pictures of increasing complexity. Each individual was shown a picture for 8 to 10 seconds and a drawing of it was then immediately elicited. Four groups were defined according to the following schooling levels: illiterate, 1 to 4 years, 5 to 8 years and over 8 years. Individual performance was measured by summing the items correctly reproduced for the three pictures.ResultsA significant difference for age was found between the illiterate and other three schooling groups. The reproduction of picture one was better reproduced than pictures 2 and 3 for all schooling levels (p<0.001). Pictures 2 and 3 did not differ among the schooling levels. Picture reproduction among the schooling levels showed that the group with over 8 years of schooling performed better on pictures 1 and 2 (p<0.001) but not on picture 3.ConclusionIndividuals aged 60 years or older, with 8 years' schooling or less, showed a reduced capacity to reproduce geometric pictures of a high degree of complexity. Clinical evaluations that use geometrical tests could be misinterpreted when not controlled for schooling level.

The Indonesian Neuropsychological Test Battery (Intb): Psychometric Properties, Preliminary Normative Scores, the Underlying Cognitive Constructs, and the Effects of Age and Education

“…Also, the FR reproduction was adapted, and this is the first report of its normative score. Our normative scores were rather similar to an earlier study (de Brito-Marques et al, 2012). The test was conducted in Brazil and reported the correlation between the score of visual reproduction for normal older adults and their education level.…”

“…The Figural Reproduction (FR) test was based on and adapted from the Visual Reproduction test (de Brito-Marques, Cabral-Filho, & Miranda, 2012). The test consists of three geometrical pictures.…”

Comparison between the Mini-Mental State Examination and Montreal Cognitive Assessment as a Cognitive Screening Tool in Patients with Human Immunodeficiency Virus-Associated Neurocognitive Disorders

“…Moreover, especially in developing countries, the degree of education acquired does not generally correspond to the content of what should be learned. This discordance arises from an important difference in the approaches taken to diagnose neurocognitive disorders on one hand and to measure cognition on the other hand 15,28 .…”

“…We suggest that the MoCA is more sensitive than the MMSE test when evaluating individuals with HAND; however, some of the categorical aspects of the MoCA can be questioned such as the diagnostic result and can be better used as an assessment of cognitive capacity 31 . Visuospatial perception and ability can be considered individual factors, which make it difficult to achieve results even in schooling individuals 28 . To assess individual aptitudes in each patient, the clinical use of the MMSE combined with the MoCA may provide better information for the diagnosis of HAND than one of the isolated tests 32 .…”