Ralph M. Reitan

Neuropsychological correlates of rapidly Vs. slowly growing intrinsic cerebral neoplasms

Four groups of patients with intrinsic cerebral neoplasms were compared to determine the differential effect of neoplasm (rapidly vs. slowly growing) and lateralization of damage (right vs. left hemisphere) upon neuropsychological functioning. No prior study has had enough subjects with neoplastic lesions to permit this kind of investigation. The group with rapidly growing neoplasms consistently had greater neuropsychological impairment. Lateralization of cerebral damage was found to have a differential effect on neuropsychological functions. Results indicate that neuropathological and lateralization characteristics of neoplastic lesions (and probably of cerebral lesions in general) are important variables in understanding the behavioral correlates of cerebral damage.

Sex Similarities in Verbal and Performance IQ Deficits Following Unilateral Cerebral Lesions.

Contrairement a ce qui avait pu etre rapporte anterieurement dans la litterature, on a pas trouve de differences significatives dans les scores aux echelles verbales et de «performance» du Wechsler Bellevue Intelligence Scale, entre les hommes et les femmes atteints de lesions cerebrales de meme gravite

Relationships between measures of brain functions and general intelligence.

Relationships between measures of general intelligence (Wechsler-Bellevue Verbal IQ, Performance IQ, and Full-scale IQ) and a measure designed to reflect adequacy of brain functions (Halstead Impairment Index) were studied using a control group and groups with left, right and generalized cerebral lesions. The results confirmed earlier findings of (1) differential levels of Verbal and Performance intelligence depending on damage of the left or right cerebral hemisphere; and (2) the greater general sensitivity of the Impairment Index than IQ values to brain damage. Comparative data suggested particularly that IQ values may underestimate brain-dependent adaptive abilities among non-brain-damaged subjects. A significant relationship between IQ values and the Impairment Index was present. This finding permitted evaluation of use of a differing cut-off Impairment Index, as an indicator of cerebral damage, depending on the subjects IQ level. The results suggested that increased accuracy in classifying subjects as brain-damaged might be achieved using a cutting Impairment Index of .4 or greater when the IQ value is 100 or more and .5 or greater when the IQ value is below 100.

Effect of lateralized cerebral damage upon contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor performances

Three groups of 50 adult patients with either lateralized vascular, neoplastic, or traumatic cerebral lesions were compared with respect to their contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor functioning. The present study investigated the extent of sensorimotor deficits associated with different types of naturally-occurring damage to the right and left hemispheres. Sensorimotor abilities were assessed using tests from the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery. Intergroup comparisons showed a differential pattern of sensorimotor impairment in which the cerebrovascular group was most impaired, followed by the neoplastic group, with the trauma group demonstrating the least impairment. Interhemispheric comparisons among the lesion groups consistently demonstrated right cerebral hemisphere predominance for contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor functions. The findings indicate clearly that the sensorimotor functions of the two cerebral hemispheres are not merely mirror images of each other. Apparently, the functional organization of the human brain is such that the right hemisphere is predominant for both contralateral and ipsilateral sensorimotor functioning. Results are discussed in terms of these theoretical questions and in terms of several methodological considerations necessary for the appropriate study of the functional organization of sensorimotor processes.

A short screening device for identification of cerebral dysfunction in children

Many psychologists have been interested in the development of a screening battery for cerebral dysfunction. The purpose of the present study was to identify a short screening battery, drawn from the Halstead-Reitan Battery, that had a high degree of accuracy in differential identification of brain-damage and normal children. Fifty brain-damaged children and 50 controls (age 9-14 years) were identified and subdivided into two groups of 25 children in each category. The data based on the first pair of groups (25 brain-damaged and 25 control children) were processed with a discriminant analysis with linear transformation of the results, and a weighted screening index was developed based on eight measures. This screening index had an accuracy rate of 92% in differentiating the brain-damaged subjects from the controls. The screening index then was applied to the validational groups (25 brain-damaged and 25 normal children), and an 86% accuracy rate was achieved. Computation of the screening index, which requires less than an hour of testing, is illustrated in this paper.

Effect of lateralized lesions on ipsilateral and contralateral motor functioning

Abstract The present study investigated the effect of lesions principally involving the left or right cerebral hemisphere upon measures of grip strength and finger tapping speed. The purpose was to determine whether ipsilateral and contralateral motor deficits were more frequently associated with lesions of the right or left cerebral hemispheres in patients with cerebral vascular, traumatic, or neoplastic damage. Groups of subjects with right hemisphere (n = 45) and left hemisphere (n = 45) damage were composed solely on the basis of detailed neurological records. Each group consisted of 15 subjects with vascular, traumatic, or neoplastic lesions. The results indicated that neither lesions of the left nor right cerebral hemisphere were pre-eminent in producing ipsilateral or contralateral motor deficits. The significant differences found were interpreted as reflecting the hand preference of the patients.

Neuropsychological performance in posttraumatic epilepsy.

Performances on the Wechsler‐Bellevue Intelligence Scale and on Halsteads neuropsychological measures were investigated in two groups of adult subjects with posttraumatic seizures. One of the groups, in addition to seizures, had abnormal and persistent focal cortical signs. The other group had seizures only and no other known deficits or complications. The results suggest that posttraumatic epilepsy, whether or not accompanied by abnormal and persistent focal cortical signs, is associated with significant psychological impairment. Patients with posttraumatic epilepsy alone perform somewhat better than those whose epilepsy is accompanied by independent evidence of cortical damage. However, the performance difference between such patients is not major, nor is it statistically significant on most measures such as those used in the present study. Possible reasons for the performance deficit in this group were discussed.

An Impairment Index of Brain Functions in Children

An impairment index of brain functions in children, based on the 1979 Rules System by Selz and Reitan, was developed to summarize the performance on the Halstead-Reitan Neuropsychological Test Battery for older children comparing groups of 25 normal, learning-disabled, and brain-damaged children aged 9 through 14 yr. Analysis of variance indicated a significant difference between all pairs of groups. A cut-off Impairment Index between .17 and .18 correctly differentiated 78% of the brain-damaged and control subjects. The findings suggested that the Impairment Index for Children may be a valid and objective indicator of brain functions in older children, although cross-validation is necessary.