Contribution of the TPT to adult neuropsychological assessment: a review.

The Tactual Performance Test (TPT) is reviewed because of its widespread use in neuropsychology. The review indicates that: (1) each of the three TPT scores (Time, Memory, Location), while having considerable overlap in what is measured, contributes something unique; (2) test-retest reliability is adequate, although TPT Memory and Location are generally less reliable than TPT Time; (3) TPT Time has proven to be a sensitive and valid measure of dysfunction in heterogeneous populations of brain-damaged subjects; (4) subject variables of importance to TPT performance are age, IQ, sex, and, to a much less extent, education; (5) there are indications that TPT Time is somewhat more sensitive to right-hemisphere dysfunction, at least in acutely brain-damaged subjects; (6) in more chronic cases, the TPT may be more sensitive to extent of damage than locus of lesion; (7) in obtaining lateralizing information, TPT Time scores for each hand are most helpful; and, (8) additional information may be obtained through examining individual trial scores, pattern across three trials, and observing the subject's strategy in completing the task. Modifications and implications for rehabilitation are discussed.