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Table 1 Neuropsychological tests performed

From: Cognitive changes associated with switching to frequent nocturnal hemodialysis or renal transplantation

Test name

Cognitive domain(s)

Brief Description

American National Adult Reading Test (ANART)

Estimated premorbid Intelligence

Ability of subject to properly pronounce a list of 50 irregular words.

Modified Mini-Mental Status Exam (3MS)

Dementia and global cognitive function

Series of questions testing orientation, memory, arithmetic ability, attention, repetition, language and visuospatial drawing ability.

Beck Depression Inventory (BDI-II)

Depression

Multiple choice 21 item questionnaire assessing severity of depression

Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT)

Verbal learning and memory

Tests subject’s ability to correctly recall a set of 15 words presented verbally 5 times to test auditory learning. After a distractor set of 15 different words the subject is asked to recall the original 15 words either immediately (immediate recall) or after a delay of 30 min (delayed recall).

Brief Visuospatial Memory Test –Revised (BVMT-R)

Visuospatial learning and memory

Tests subject’s ability to learn and remember 6 geometric figures and their corresponding spatial locations from a printed display. The display is presented three times with free recall (drawing) after each presentation. After approximately 25 min, the participant is again asked to draw the display.

Letter-Number Sequencing

Working memory and attention

Subject is verbally presented a list of numbers (N) and letters (L) that they must order (and verbally recite) correctly. Starts with 3 different sets of 2 N + L combos and increases to 3 sets of 8 N + L combos.

N-Back (Computer task)

Working and short-term memory

Subject is presented with a sequence of stimuli, and the task consists of indicating when the current stimulus matches the one from 2 steps earlier in the sequence. Lures (rather than foils) are used in some tests where the stimulus presented matches one from either 1 or 3 steps (but not 2 steps) back.

Digit Symbol Test

Psychomotor processing speed, working memory

Tests subject’s ability to correctly match and write down a number corresponding with a particular symbol. Score is number of items completed correctly in 90 s.

Chooser (Choice Reaction Time) (Computer task)

Psychomotor processing speed and attention

Tests subject’s reaction time moving finger from home button to one of two alternative signal buttons that has been lit up.

Buttons (Motor Tracking) (Computer task)

Ability to utilize advanced information (planning) to improve psychomotor processing speed and attention

Tests subject’s reaction time in repeatedly releasing their finger from the home button and correctly moving to one of two alternative buttons in separate columns that become lit up. Varying levels of cues are offered to determine whether subject is able to use additional information to improve performances.

Trail Making Test forms A and B

Psychomotor processing speed and executive function (problem solving, planning, organizational skills, selective attention, inhibitory control, working memory)

Trails A measures time required to connect numbers scattered on a page in correct sequential order. Trails B measures time required to connect a series of numbers (1–12) and letters (A-L) in correct consecutive sequential order (1-A-2-B, etc.).

Controlled Oral Word Association Test (COWAT)

Verbal fluency, flexibility and initiation. Language

Subject is given a certain letter (such as “F”) and must say as many words as they can think of that start with that letter in 60 s. This is repeated 2 more times with different letters.