title: Contribution of the TPT to adult neuropsychological assessment: a review.
abstract: The Tactual Performance Test (TPT) is reviewed because of its widespread use in neuropsychology. The review indicates that: (1) each of the three TPT scores (Time, Memory, Location), while having considerable overlap in what is measured, contributes something unique; (2) test-retest reliability is adequate, although TPT Memory and Location are generally less reliable than TPT Time; (3) TPT Time has proven to be a sensitive and valid measure of dysfunction in heterogeneous populations of brain-damaged subjects; (4) subject variables of importance to TPT performance are age, IQ, sex, and, to a much less extent, education; (5) there are indications that TPT Time is somewhat more sensitive to right-hemisphere dysfunction, at least in acutely brain-damaged subjects; (6) in more chronic cases, the TPT may be more sensitive to extent of damage than locus of lesion; (7) in obtaining lateralizing information, TPT Time scores for each hand are most helpful; and, (8) additional information may be obtained through examining individual trial scores, pattern across three trials, and observing the subject's strategy in completing the task. Modifications and implications for rehabilitation are discussed.
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D006801:Humans; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D019965:Neurocognitive Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D013236:Stereognosis