FIGURAL FLUENCY - DIFFERENTIAL IMPAIRMENT IN PATIENTS WITH LEFT VERSUS RIGHT FRONTAL-LOBE LESIONS

Based on an experimental study, Jones-Gorman and Milner demonstrated t hat patients with right frontal lobe lesions were impaired on design f luency. We sought a clinical adaptation and developed a psychometrical ly sound technique for design fluency. The present study explores the validity of the Ruff Figural Fluency Test (RFFT) in discriminating pat ients with either right frontal or nonright frontal lobe lesions. In t he first of two studies, six subjects with circumscribed focal lesions were given the RFFT and the Jones-Gotman and Milner figural fluency t ask. In the second study we identified a larger sample of 30 patients with focal lesions in the right frontal, left frontal, right posterior or left posterior cortex. The results from both studies support the v alidity of the RFFT as a measure which is sensitive to right anterior dysfunction.