Clinical differentiation of the Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test

The Rey Auditory-Verbal Learning Test (RAVLT) was used to assess memory and learning in dementia, psychiatric, general medicine, and head injury patients. Subjects were 127 older male veterans who received the RAVLT as part of a routine assessment. The dementia group recalled fewer total words than the psychiatric and general medicine groups. While all men demonstrated a positive learning curve, learning patterns varied among the four groups. Recency effects were seen in all groups. Primacy effects were not seen in the dementia group. Specific trials of the RAVLT appear to distinguish groups better than the total score. Additionally, sequential organization of information may influence memory and learning in these groups.