NELSON (1976) MODIFIED CARD SORTING TEST - A REVIEW

We review studies of Nelson's (1976) Modified Card Sorting Test (MCST) that have examined the performance of subjects with frontal lobe dysf unction. Six studies investigated the performance of normal controls a nd patients with frontal lobe dysfunction, whereas four studies compar ed the performance of frontal and nonfrontal patients. One further stu dy compared the performance of amnesic patients both on the MCST and o n the original Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (WCST). Evidence regarding the MCST's differential sensitivity to frontal lobe dysfunction is wea k, as is the evidence regarding the equivalence of the MCST and WCST I t is likely that the MCST is an altogether different test from the sta ndard version. In the absence of proper normative data for the MCST, w e provide a table of scores derived from the control groups of various studies. Given the paucity of evidence, further research is required before the MCST can be recommended for use as a marker of frontal lobe dysfunction.