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Simple verbal analogies test: normative data on a short task exploring abstract thinking

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Abstract

Background and aims

The simple verbal analogies test (SVAT) is a short neuropsychological task requiring few minutes of administration that explores inductive verbal abstract thinking. It already showed a good specificity and sensitivity in discriminating normal controls from probable Alzheimer’s disease patients. Verbal working memory, semantic knowledge and memory and word-finding ability are also involved in performing analogies. The aim of this study is to provide the normative values of this test in a sample of normal controls and corrections of raw scores and equivalent scores.

Methods and results

We determined the normative values of SVAT in a sample of 424 normal controls to provide corrections of raw scores and equivalent scores.

Conclusions

SVAT is a useful test to assess executive functions, working memory and to discriminate between cognitive deterioration and normal aging.

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Acknowledgments

We thank Gino Galletti Foundation for its independent research grant.

Conflict of interest

None.

Author information

Authors and Affiliations

  1. IRCCS Istituto delle Scienze Neurologiche di Bologna, Ospedale Bellaria, via Altura 3, 40139, Bologna, Italy

    Roberto Gallassi, Luisa Sambati, Roberto Poda & Federico Oppi

  2. Dipartimento di Scienze Biomediche e NeuroMotorie Università di Bologna, Bologna, Italy

    Luisa Sambati, Michelangelo Stanzani Maserati & Maddalena De Matteis

  3. Società Italiana di Psicoterapia Psicoanalitica, Rome, Italy

    Gianfranco Marano

Authors
  1. Roberto Gallassi
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  2. Luisa Sambati
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  3. Michelangelo Stanzani Maserati
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  4. Roberto Poda
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  5. Federico Oppi
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  6. Maddalena De Matteis
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  7. Gianfranco Marano
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Corresponding author

Correspondence to Roberto Gallassi.

Appendices

Appendix: Simple Verbal Analogies Test

Examples

  1. 1.

    pecora : agnello = mucca : vitello

  2. 2.

    volante : automobile = manubrio : bicicletta

Test

  1. 1.

    cane : cuccia = uccello : nido (gabbia)

  2. 2.

    rete : pesca = fucile : caccia

  3. 3.

    cacciavite: vite = martello : chiodo

  4. 4.

    piede : scarpa = mano : guanto

  5. 5.

    quadro : pittore = statua : scultore

  6. 6.

    Parigi : Francia = Roma : Italia

  7. 7.

    donna : bambino = gallina : pulcino

  8. 8.

    smalto : unghie = rossetto : labbra

  9. 9.

    sigarette : tabaccaio = carne : macellaio

  10. 10.

    corda : chitarra = tastiera : pianoforte (fisarmonica o altro strumento con tastiera)

  11. 11.

    laccio : scarpa = cintura : calzoni (gonna)

  12. 12.

    garage : automobile = porto : nave (motoscafo, barca o imbarcazione)

  13. 13.

    libro : carta = tavolo : legno

  14. 14.

    coperta : letto = tovaglia : tavolo

  15. 15.

    pistola : pallottola = arco : freccia

  16. 16.

    avvocato : tribunale = medico : ospedale (clinica, non ambulatorio)

  17. 17.

    treno : binario = macchina : strada (autostrada)

  18. 18.

    marmellata : frutta = formaggio : latte

  19. 19.

    termosifone : nafta = camino: legna

  20. 20.

    pesce : sommergibile = uccello : aereo (dirigibile)

This English translation of SVAT

Examples

  1. 1.

    the sheep : lamb = the cow : the calf

  2. 2.

    the steering wheel : the car = handlebars : the bicycle

Test

  1. 1.

    the dog : the kennel = the bird : the nest (the cage)

  2. 2.

    the network : the fishing = the rifle : the hunting

  3. 3.

    the screwdriver : the screw = the hammer : the nail

  4. 4.

    the foot : the shoe = the hand : the glove

  5. 5.

    the picture : the painter = the statue : sculptor

  6. 6.

    Paris : France = Rome : Italy

  7. 7.

    the woman : the child = the hen : the chick

  8. 8.

    the enamel : nails = the lipstick : lips

  9. 9.

    cigarettes : the tobacconist = the meat : the butcher

  10. 10.

    the rope : the guitar = the keyboard : the piano (or other instrument with keyboard)

  11. 11.

    the snare: the shoe = the belt : pants (skirt)

  12. 12.

    the garage : the car = the port : the ship (boat)

  13. 13.

    the book : the paper = the table : the wood

  14. 14.

    the blanket : the bed = the cloth : the table

  15. 15.

    the gun : the bullet = the arc : the arrow

  16. 16.

    the lawyer : the court = the doctor : the hospital

  17. 17.

    the train : the binary = the car : the road (motorway)

  18. 18.

    the jam : fruit = the cheese : the milk

  19. 19.

    the radiator : the oil = the fireplace : the wood

  20. 20.

    the fish : the submarine = the bird : the plane (airship)

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Gallassi, R., Sambati, L., Stanzani Maserati, M. et al. Simple verbal analogies test: normative data on a short task exploring abstract thinking. Aging Clin Exp Res 26, 67–71 (2014). https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0180-0

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  • DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/s40520-013-0180-0

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