The WASI matrix reasoning subtest: performance in traumatic brain injury, stroke, and dementia

Previous research reported that the WAIS-III Matrix Reasoning (MR) subtest was insensitive to the effects of traumatic brain injury (TBI), learning disability, and attention deficit hyperactivity disorder. This study was conducted to determine whether these findings generalize to the Wechsler Abbreviated Scale of Intelligence (WASI) MR subtest and to explore the subtest's sensitivity to other brain disorders. When 81 brain-damaged patients completed the WASI, the MR subtest was the highest score in the profile. For subgroups of TBI and Dementia, MR yielded the highest mean T-score. For patients with stroke, MR was the second highest mean. Subtest comparisons with estimated premorbid IQ suggested MR might show selective sensitivity. Results indicated no predictive validity for TBI, whereas MR was sensitive to the cognitive sequelae of stroke and dementia.