19Īlthough several DS norms have been reported, many of them were obtained from relatively small number of elderly participants with a limited educational background. Some studies reported a minimal or no gender effect, suggesting that no gender corrections need to be applied to normative data, 5, 18 while other studies showed significantly higher DS backward performance in female than in male.

15 - 17 However, the effect of gender on DS score is controversial. 12 - 14 Educational level is also known to have a positive effect on DS performance. The relationship between older age and reduced performance has been consistently reported. 10, 11ĭS performance has been found to be influenced by demographic factors. 7 - 9 The DS also can be applied to assess people handicapped by illiteracy. The DS is very useful in clinical settings to differentiate, monitor, and describe various neuropsychiatric or cognitive disorders including dementia, depression, and malingered neurocognitive dysfunction. Although specific cognitive components contributing to each part of the DS performance are not well-defined, the DS forward is regarded to be more related to attention and the DS backward is to working memory. Each part is considered to assess somewhat different cognitive processes. 1 - 5 The DS consists of forward recall part and backward recall part for digit sequences. 12, 91–96, 1941.The Digit Span test (DS) is a widely used neuropsychological measure, known as a test of attention and working memory. Wilks S.S.: Determination of sample size for setting tolerance limits. Weinberg J., Diller L., Gerstman L., Schulman P.: Digit span in right and left hemiplegics. Vallar G., Papagno C.: Phonological short-term store and the nature of the recency effect. Vallar G., Baddeley A.D.: Fractionation of working memory: neuropsychological evidence for a phonological short-term store. Taub H.A.: A comparison of young adult and old groups on various digit span tasks. Risse G.L., Rubens A.B., Jordan L.S.: Disturbances of long-term memory in aphasic patients. Newcombe F.: Missile wounds of the brain. Perceptual and Motor Skills 53, 39–42, 1981. Orsini A., Schiappa O., Grossi D.: Sex and cultural differences in children's spatial and verbal memory span. A study in normal subjects from 20s up to 99s. Orsini A., Chiacchio L., Cinoue M., Cocchiaro C., Schiappa O., Grossi D.: Effects of age, educational level and sex on two tests of immediate memory. Milner B.: Interhemispheric differences in the localization of psychological processes in man. Jacobs J.: Experiments on “prehension” Mind 12, 75–79, 1887. & Fox J.: Differential effects of age and cerebral atrophy upon span of immediate recall and paired-associate learning in older patients suspected of dementia. Hulicka I.M.: Age differences in Wechsler Memory Scale Scores. Grossi D., Orsini A., Monetti C., De Michele G.: Sex differences in children's spatial and verbal memory span. Grossi D., Matarese V., Orsini A.: Sex differences in adults' spatial and verbal memory span. 93, 302–308, 1972.įriedman H.: Interrelation of two types of immediate memory in the aged. Cortex 11, 341–354, 1975.ĭrachman D., Leavitt J.: Memory impairment in the aged: storage versus retrieval deficit. 131–168, 1968.ĭe Renzi E., Nichelli P.: Verbal and nonverbal short-term memory impairment following hemispheric damage. Talland (Ed.) Human aging and behavior, New York, Academic Press, pp. Thesis, McGill University, Montreal, 1972.Ĭraik F.I.M.: Short-term memory and the aging process. Human memory and the medial temporal region of the brain Ph. (Eds.) Neurology, Springer, Berlin, 61–69, 1986.Ĭase R., Kurland M.D., Goldberg J.: Operational efficiency and the growth of short-term memory span. Acta Neurologica 33, 175–183, 1978.Ĭapitani E., Della Sala S., Spinnler H.: Neuropsychological approach to dementia.

Cantone G., Orsini A., Grossi D., De Michele G.: Verbal and spatial memory in dementia.

Average digit span by age