Cross-validation of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery for the presence, lateralization, and localization of brain damage

The present study is a cross-validation of the effectiveness of the Luria-Nebraska Neuropsychological Battery in determining the presence, lateralization, and localization of brain injury. Ss were 87 patients (23-86 yrs old) who had brain lesions that could be regionally localized to 1 of 8 areas (4 in each hemisphere) by computerized tomography. Results indicate a hit rate of 86% for determining presence of brain damage using a summary score analogous to the Halstead Impairment Index. Lateralization was attempted by 2 methods: (a) comparison of 2 nonoverlapping hemispheric scales, which yielded a hit rate of 78%, and (b) determination of the highest localization scale, which yielded a hit rate of 92%. Localization was determined by matching the locus of brain injury to the highest localization code, which yielded a hit rate of 74%. Localization to correct quadrant of the brain had a hit rate of 84%. MANOVA indicated that both the behavioral and localization scales could significantly discriminate among the 8 localization groups. Typical profiles of each patient group are presented. (23 ref) (PsycINFO Database Record (c) 2006 APA, all rights reserved).