Effects of localized lesions on the Verbal Concept Attainment Test

This study examined the performance of groups of patients (n = 97) with independently localized cerebral lesions on the Verbal Concept Attainment Test (VCAT). It was found that the left frontal group was impaired relative to all the other-lesion groups. In addition frequency distributions were examined in the lesion groups and a large normative sample (n = 360). Although the means of the other-lesion groups were below that of controls, the left frontal group had the lowest mean score, and was characterized by an absence of relatively good scores. Possible cut-off scores were examined for potential clinical utility. The data were discussed in relation to previous studies of frontal-lobe behavioral deficits and in relation to the potential clinical utility of the VCAT in detection of frontal-lobe dysfunction.