Assessing Cognition Flashcards
5 categories of attention
alertness, divided attention, sustained attention, selective attention, alternating attention
2 kinds of alertness
Tonic Alertness- readiness to respond over long time interval (min to hours). Estimated during interview and family reports
Phasic Alertness- alertness that requires rapid responses. tested with reaction-time testing like pushing a button
Sustained Attention
Vigilance, tested by doing strings of computer presented auditory or visual stimuli and pt must indicate when they hear or see a target
Selective Attention
Assessed through cancellation tasks-pt must scan a paper and cross out targets
Alternating Attention
Target to be cancelled out changes, more difficult task
Divided Attention
pt must retain information while performing another task.
Attention in daily life
uses everyday materials, such as maps, telephone books
Memory Stages
Sensory register or memory Immediate memory (short term memory, retention span) Long-term memory
Sensory register or memory
where incoming information is retained
Immediate Memory (short term memory, retention span)
has limited capacity and decays within a few seconds unless rehearsed. Working memory
Long term memory
large capacity, where information is stored
Long term memory categories
Recent Memory
Remote memory
Retrospective Memory
Relates to past experience
Retrospective Memory Types
Declarative memory
Procedural memory
Declarative memory
what we know about things, knowledge of who we are, capitols of countries, multiplication tables
Procedural memory
information that’s applied automatically without having to think-how to drive, ride a bike
Prospective Memory
remembering to do things in the future like keeping appointments.
Examples of Assessing Immediate Memory
repetition of digits, letters, etc
Examples of Assessing Remote Memory
ask patient for personal information like birthday, place of birth
Examples of Visual Memory
show patient a picture, remove picture and ask patient to draw it from memory
Executive Function
doing what has to be done to accomplish ones goals or to solve a problem. it includes the process of attention, memory, planning, reasoning, abstract thinking and problem solving
Assessing Executive Function
Response flexibility
TBI pts have problems inhibiting and modifying their behavior and of adapting their behavior to changing situations. they may perseverate, which shows impaired response flexibility (cant shift to a new stimulus)
Assessing Executive Function
Planning
assessed through cancellation tasks, trail making tests, or maze tests. The Five Point Test
Assessing Executive Function
Reasoning
Verbal reasoning tests-what would you do if you saw a hit and run
Verbal Absurdities- “Bills feet are so big that he has to pull his trousers on over his head
Logical relationship tests- Fred is taller example, pt must arrive at conclusion
Math reasoning problems
Picture completion tasks- pt tells wha’ts missing from the picture
Picture Arrangement/sequencing tests
Standard Progressive Matrices- tests of visuo spatial analysis
Assessing Abstract Thinking
Proverb interpretation
similarities and differences
Categorization and sorting tasks-divergent and convergent
Tests designed specifically for Executive Funtion
Six Element Test- make up and tell 2 stories, solve 2 sets of 30 easy math problems, write names of 2 30-item sets of line drawing depicting common objects
Hayling Sentence Completion Test- Part A: sentences with final word missing, Part B: patient says word that doesn’t belong in sentence
Brain Injury can result in issues with
self doubt
depression
emotional lability- exaggerated swings in emotions
concreteness
