The Medical College of Georgia Complex Figures: reliability and preliminary normative data using an intentional...

Reliability and preliminary normative data are provided for the Medical College of Georgia Complex Figures (MCGCF). Forms A and B were examined in 77 healthy older adults, aged 55-75, and found to be of comparable difficulty. Despite the use of parallel forms, there was a practice effect on retesting for each of the recall trials of the MCGCF. There was no effect of gender on performance, but a correction factor is recommended for those aged 65 and older. Preliminary age-adjusted normative tables are available, as is information to facilitate the interpretation of intrasubject (i.e., idiographic) performances within and between trials. The latter data are particularly relevant for clinical practice, but are rarely reported in the literature. Still lacking for the MCGCF is independent validation of their utility in the evaluation of clinical populations. Whereas examination of the various complex figures reveals no prima facie evidence to suggest a lack of congruence in clinical utility between the MCGCF and the Taylor figure, this key question can only be addressed through independent empirical validation.