Browsing by Author "Harrison, D. W."

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    Quantitative electroencephalographic and neuropsychological investigation of an alternative measure of frontal lobe executive functions: the Figure Trail Making Test
    Foster, Paul S.; Drago, V.; Ferguson, B. J.; Harrison, P. K.; Harrison, D. W. (2015-12)
    The most frequently used measures of executive functioning are either sensitive to left frontal lobe functioning or bilateral frontal functioning. Relatively little is known about right frontal lobe contributions to executive functioning given the paucity of measures sensitive to right frontal functioning. The present investigation reports the development and initial validation of a new measure designed to be sensitive to right frontal lobe functioning, the Figure Trail Making Test (FTMT). The FTMT, the classic Trial Making Test, and the Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT) were administered to 42 right-handed men. The results indicated a significant relationship between the FTMT and both the TMT and the RFFT. Performance on the FTMT was also related to high beta EEG over the right frontal lobe. Thus, the FTMT appears to be an equivalent measure of executive functioning that may be sensitive to right frontal lobe functioning. Applications for use in frontotemporal dementia, Alzheimer's disease, and other patient populations are discussed.
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    Test-retest reliability of the Ruff Figural Fluency Test
    Harrison, P. K.; Rowland, J.; Knepp, M.; Stephens, C.; Noguchi, R.; Towe, S.; Immel, C.; DeVore, B. B.; Harrison, D. W. (2016-10-20)
    The Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT), originally designed by Ruff et al. in 1987 [1], is a neuropsychological testing instrument frequently used in clinical, medical, and research settings as an indication of non-verbal fluency reflective of potential right hemispheric deficits. Research on the RFFT has shown that it can be useful in determining potential frontal lobe damage, particularly neural loss in the right frontal region. Given the high utility of the RFFT as a measure of design fluency deficits, various research efforts have been made to establish the test-retest properties of the RFFT. The current study sought to replicate previous efforts provided by Ruff et al. (1987) [1] and Ross et al. (2003) [2] looking at the normative data of the RFFT on an undergraduate population. Multiple factors were taking into consideration, including age, ethnicity, and gender. Findings from the study indicate high testretest reliability, despite improved scores on the RFFT between test 1 and test 2. Overall, the findings from the current study supported previously demonstrated test-retest properties of the RFFT, further establishing this neuropsychological tool as a strong measure of non-verbal fluency and right hemispheric functioning.