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The Brixton Spatial Anticipation Test as a test for executive function: Validity in patient groups and norms for older adults

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  01 September 2009

ESTHER VAN DEN BERG ,
GUDRUN M. S. NYS ,
AUGUSTINA M. A. BRANDS ,
CARLA RUIS ,
MARTINE J. E. VAN ZANDVOORT  and
ROY P. C. KESSELS
ESTHER VAN DEN BERG*
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands
GUDRUN M. S. NYS
Affiliation:
Laboratory for Neuropsychology, Department of Neurology, Ghent University, Ghent, Belgium
AUGUSTINA M. A. BRANDS
Affiliation:
Neuropsychology, Zuwe Hofpoort/Regional Psychiatric Center, Woerden, The Netherlands Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
CARLA RUIS
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
MARTINE J. E. VAN ZANDVOORT
Affiliation:
Department of Neurology, Rudolf Magnus Institute of Neuroscience, University Medical Center Utrecht, Utrecht, The Netherlands Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands
ROY P. C. KESSELS
Affiliation:
Department of Experimental Psychology, Helmholtz Institute, Utrecht University, Utrecht, The Netherlands Donders Institute for BrainCognition, and Behavior, Radboud University Nijmegen, Nijmegen, The Netherlands Departments of Medical Psychology and Geriatrics, Radboud University, Nijmegen Medical Center, Nijmegen, The Netherlands
*
*Correspondence and reprint requests: Esther van den Berg, University Medical Center Utrecht, Department of Neurology G03.228, P.O. Box 85500, 3508 GA Utrecht, The Netherlands. E-mail: e.vandenberg-6@umcutrecht.nl
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Abstract

Impairments in executive functioning frequently occur after acquired brain damage, in psychiatric disorders, and in relation to aging. The Brixton Spatial Anticipation Test is a relatively new measure for assessing the ability to detect and follow a rule, an important aspect of executive functioning. To date, normative data on this task are limited, particularly concerning the elderly. This study presents age- and education-adjusted regression-based norms obtained in a group of healthy older participants (n = 283; mean age 67.4 ± 8.5 years). The applicability and validity of these norms were further examined in different groups of patients with stroke (n = 106), diabetes mellitus (n = 376), MCI/early dementia (n = 70), psychiatric disorders (n = 63), and Korsakoff’s syndrome (n = 41). The results showed that patients with Korsakoff’s syndrome, stroke, and psychiatric disorders performed significantly worse than healthy controls. Test-retest correlation (n = 83), learning effects, and correlations with other neuropsychological tests were also explored. Based on the present study, the Brixton test appears a useful addition to existing measures of executive functioning. Moreover, the test can be reliably applied in different groups of clinical patients. (JINS, 2009, 15, 695–703.)

Keywords

Executive functionsBrixton Spatial Anticipation TestNormative dataAgingValidityClinical
Type
Research Articles
Information
Journal of the International Neuropsychological Society , Volume 15 , Issue 5 , September 2009 , pp. 695 - 703
Copyright
Copyright © The International Neuropsychological Society 2009

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