Prediction of unilateral brain dysfunction using Wechsler test scores.

This study investigated whether oblique factor scores for Wechsler tests discriminate right- and left-hemisphere brain dysfunction more effectively than subtest or scale scores. A criterion sample of 60 psychomotor-seizure epileptics was divided into 2 equal cross- validation groups with comparable proportions of right and left Ss. 3 measures of lateralization were used, with a criterion cut-off of at least 2 measures lateralizing each S. A computer-programmed, "stepwise" regression analysis was performed utilizing a double cross-validation design. Regular scale scores proved more effective than factor scores, although the latter were nearly comparable using a different factor-extraction matrix. (22 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Measurable biological substrates to verbal-performance differences in Wechsler scores.

Reports on 3 studies involving 12 normal controls, 19 children with reading disabilities and 23 with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) (aged 96–153 mo) relating to hemispheric asymmetry, particularly asymmetry of the planum temporale in normal and reading disabled populations and possible implications with regard to the meaningfulness of IQ test results. A great deal of neurobiological research has examined this region of the brain because it has long been recognized for its role in linguistic processing. Specifically, the planum temporale has consistently been found to be associated with language comprehension and has been the focus of multiple clinical and experimental studies. This research suggests that both the Verbal IQ and Verbal Comprehension factors of the WISC-III are related to the length of the left temporal bank of the planum temporale. Based on these studies, verbal performance differences may reflect the asymmetry of the planum. With advanced technology and functional neuroimaging, further research may provide information relating to how these findings can be useful in clinical practice. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Examiner sex bias and Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children scores.

Administered the WISC (excluding Mazes and Digit Span) to 64 3rd graders randomly selected for IQ. Eight examiners, 4 males and 4 females, each tested 8 children, 4 boys and 4 girls. Female examiners elicited higher Full Scale IQ, Verbal IQ, Comprehension, Similarities, and Vocabulary scores from all children. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Cross-validation of predicted Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised scores.

Equations for prorating the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised General Memory (GM) and Delayed Recall (DR) index scores (J. L. Woodard & B. N. Axelrod,1995) were confirmed in a new clinical sample of 258 patients. Raw score results for Logical Memory, Visual Reproduction, and Verbal Paired Associates were entered into the prediction equations. Predicted GM and DR scores fell within 6 points of obtained scores for 94% and 97% of the sample, respectively. A multiple regression analysis yielded multiple R–2 of .976 and .984 for GM and DR, respectively. In addition, the unstandardized regression weights were virtually identical to those initially presented by Woodard and Axelrod. These prediction equations for the GM and DR summary scores have validity for patient samples similar to those of the present study. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Stability of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised factor scores across time.

This study was designed to assess the stability of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R) factor scores across time. Information provided in the manual (D. Wechsler, 1981) on 2 subsets of the standardization data was used to estimate sample stability in Verbal Comprehension, Perceptual Organization, and Memory/Freedom from Distractibility scores. For both samples, and across all factors, estimated test–retest correlations were high. In addition, test–retest scores of 39 individuals with IQs     

Validity of Verbal IQ as a short form of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale.

The validity of Verbal IQ as a short form of the WAIS was investigated using the criteria proposed by R. J. Resnick and A. O. Entin (see record 1971-09973-001). The WAIS was administered to 100 psychiatric patients of whom 39 were psychotics, 54 non-psychotic, 6 brain-damaged, and 1 unclassified. A Pearson product-moment correlation of .97 ( p     

Computation of Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised factor scores: Equal and differential weights.

Standard procedures for estimating factor scores for the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale—Revised (WAIS—R; D. Wechsler, 1981) involve equally weighted sums of the subtests that load most highly on the factor being estimated. We argue that factor scores derived in this manner lack discriminant validity; they are strongly biased toward g (the first unrotated factor) and away from the other 2 unrotated factors. If regression-like weights are applied to all of the WAIS—R subtests and the products are summed, the resulting differentially weighted factors give results that show similar convergent validity and much greater discriminant validity with respect to the original factors. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2011 APA, all rights reserved)     

Changes in seizure frequency and test-retest scores on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale

Test-retest performance on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale (WAIS) of two groups of adult epilepsy patients are presented and compared. In one group, Seizures Improved (SI) group, seizure frequency had decreased during the test-retest interval, and in the other group, Seizures Unimproved (SU) group, the number of seizures had either increased or stayed the same over the test-retest interval. The SI group showed a significant test-retest improvement on WAIS Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, and Full Scale IQ, as well as on eight of 11 WAIS subtests. In comparison, the SU group showed significant increases only on the Performance IQ and Object Assembly subtest. Furthermore, differences between the two groups were observed in the pattern of test-retest changes seen on the Performance measures relative to the Verbal measures. The results suggest that change in seizure frequency is one of the factors associated with test-retest changes in the intellectual functioning of epilepsy patients.     

Verbal and Visual Memory Index discrepancies from the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised: Cautions in interpretation.

The present study examined the clinical utility of the Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS—R; D. Wechsler, 1987) Verbal and Visual Memory Indexes to predict laterality of previous temporal lobectomy (TL) in 13 left (L; 7 men, 5 women) and 20 right (R; 11 men, 9 women) patients. Three verbal–visual index discrepancy criteria were used. Of the 16 patients with difference scores of at least 16 points (least conservative criterion), 9 had index discrepancies that incorrectly identified resection laterality (i.e., Verbal Memory Index decreased relative to Visual Memory Index in RTL patients). Five of 11 patients with index discrepancies of 21 or more points were incorrectly classified. Only 1 of 4 patients was incorrectly classified using a 29-point discrepancy criterion, although 2 RTL patients had discrepancy scores of 28 points in the incorrect direction. Consequently, users of the WMS—R are cautioned against inferring laterality of lesion on the basis of the Verbal and Visual Memory Indexes alone. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Third Edition short form for index and IQ scores in a psychiatric population.

An eight-subtest short form (SF8) of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale, Third Edition (WAIS-III), maintaining equal representation of each index factor, was developed for use with psychiatric populations. Data were collected from a mixed inpatient/outpatient sample (99 men and 101 women) referred for neuropsychological assessment. Psychometric analyses revealed an optimal SF8 comprising Vocabulary, Similarities, Arithmetic, Digit Span, Picture Completion, Matrix Reasoning, Digit Symbol Coding, and Symbol Search, scored by linear scaling. Expanding on previous short forms, the current SF8 maximizes the breadth of information and reduces administration time while maintaining the original WAIS-III factor structure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Bodily concerns as predicted by the Wechsler Object Assembly and Picture Completion Subtests: Methodological considerations.

Evaluates a report by D. J. Stewart et al (see record 1973-31381-001) of a failure to find a positive relationship between low Object Assembly scores on the WAIS and bodily concerns when the MMPI Hs scale was used in place of projective test data. Substitution of a more appropriate method of data analysis rather than the use of a more appropriate criterion measure (as was assumed) is seen to account for the failure to replicate previous research findings. This approach was extended in the present study with 73 psychiatric inpatients to the WAIS Picture Completion subtest; however, no significant group differences were found on Hs, regardless of the method of data analysis. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Black Intelligence Test of Cultural Homogeneity and Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale scores of Black and White police applicants.

Administered the 100-item Black Intelligence Test of Cultural Homogeneity (BITCH) and the full WAIS to 83 Black and White police applicants. Ss' mean age was in the early 20's, and their mean educational level was 21/2 yrs of college. Results reveal considerable overlap in the distributions of individual WAIS Full Scale IQ between the Black and White Ss, but 2 totally nonoverlapping distributions of scores on the BITCH, with no White Ss scoring above Black Ss. BITCH means were as follows: White females, 60.9; White males, 64.1; Black females, 86.7; and Black males, 83.9. The corresponding WAIS Full Scale IQ means were 117.2, 117.8, 110.2, and 101.6, respectively. Correlational analyses between the BITCH and each of the 14 WAIS measures revealed no relation between score on the BITCH and score on the WAIS. It is concluded that the lack of concurrent validity for the present form of the BITCH and its lack of adequate ceiling for Black applicants presents problems for its use in a program of police selection. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Receiver operating characteristic curve analysis of Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised scores in epilepsy surgery candidates.

Wechsler Memory Scale—Revised (WMS–R) scores were analyzed in 82 epilepsy surgery candidates. These scores were used in combination with receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves to classify patients with left temporal lobe (LTL; n?=?47) and right temporal lobe (RTL; n?=?35) seizure onset. Areas under the ROC curves indicated that separation of the LTL and RTL groups with most WMS–R subtest scores was minimal and close to chance level. Analyses of cutting scores revealed modest levels of classification with verbal memory measures such as the Logical Memory II subtest and with a score measuring the difference between Verbal and Visual Memory indexes. The results indicate that WMS–R scores used in isolation or in combination provide relatively poor discrimination of LTL and RTL patients. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of WAIS and Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos scores in an institutionalized Latin American psychiatric population.

Vocabulary and Block Design subtests of the WAIS and its Puerto Rican counterpart, the Escala de Inteligencia Wechsler para Adultos (EIWA), were compared in a chronic population of 42 hospitalized Latins and Trans-Caribbean Blacks. A matched sample of 12 English and Spanish speakers was administered the WAIS and the EIWA subtests, respectively. A sample of bilingual Latins was administered the EIWA and the WAIS subtests in a systematically counterbalanced order. In both designs, EIWA scores were significantly higher than WAIS scores. The assumption of equivalence of EIWA and WAIS estimates is questioned. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Emotional reactivity and conditionability in four strains of rats.

Compared Maudsley reactive (MR) and nonreactive (MNR) (n = 40) and Roman high-avoidance (RHA) and low-avoidance (RLA) (n = 20) male albino rats with respect to emotional reactivity and conditionability. The degree of suppression of water-drinking behavior by unsignaled electric shocks was a measure of emotionality, and the rate of recovery of drinking behavior when the unsignaled shock became signaled was a measure of conditionability. The MR Ss were the most emotional, the MNR Ss were the least emotional, and the 2 Roman strains were intermediate. The RLA Ss were shown to have poor conditionability, while the other 3 strains did not differ from each other. (26 ref.) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Verbal IQ–performance IQ discrepancies on the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised in patients with unilateral or bilateral cerebral dysfunction.

Administered the WAIS-R to 89 patients (mean age 42 yrs) with neurodiagnostically confirmed unilateral or bilateral cerebral disease. Similar to findings with previous editions of these tests, Ss with left-hemisphere disease obtained significantly lower Verbal IQ (VIQ) than Performance IQ (PIQ), and Ss with right or bilateral disease obtained lower PIQ than VIQ. It is cautioned that these VIQ–PIQ discrepancies in isolation are ineffective indexes of cerebral dysfunction and that patterns of performance must be viewed in the context of a complete neuropsychological examination and relevant medical and educational historical data. (5 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Comparison of the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale and the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-Revised.

30 male veterans (mean age 51.63 yrs) referred for neuropsychological evaluation were administered the WAIS and the WAIS-R by a procedure that avoided the repetition of identical items. The IQ scores and all subtest scores were compared and found to be significantly different, with the WAIS scores being higher than the WAIS-R scores. Computed IQs and subtest scores were correlated with only 1 correlation below .90. All correlations were significant. Comparison of the 2 test forms found them to be reliable but not equivalent. The difference in test scores is considered large enough to be important to the clinician. (2 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Selection for conditionability in Drosophila melanogaster..

Successful bidirectional selective breeding of Drosophila melanogaster for excitatory conditionability is reported, using the reliable measures of individual differences (first described by M. Holliday and J. Hirsch, 1984 and 1986) to test 1,324 animals. Bidirectional selective breeding for good and poor conditioning has produced, respectively, 1 population in which the percentage of animals showing good conditioning has increased over 25 generations for 19–77% and another in which it has decreased over 23 generations to 0–4%. No increase in a measure of sensitization induced by an unconditioned stimulus/stimuli (UCS) (the central excitatory state) accompanied the increase in the percentage of good conditioners in the population selected for good conditioning, whose level of conditioned responding exceeds that of the sensitization measure. (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2010 APA, all rights reserved)     

Serial learning. conditionability, and the choice of an independent measure of anxiety.

A stylus maze task and various conditioning procedures were undertaken by a group of 168 psychopathic Ss thought to be characterized by abnormal anxiety reactions. Ratings of anxiety were obtained and cardiovascular responses to the maze task were measured. Serial learning and cardiovascular responsiveness were negatively related (p