Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT)
AKA: Modified Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test - MODREY
Background
The Auditory Verbal Learning Test (AVLT) is a widely used neuropsychological assessment tool for verbal learning and memory. It has been shown to be a sensitive measure of episodic memory deficits related to Alzheimer’s disease, brain injury, and other neurological conditions. The test in its modern form was primarily developed by André Rey in 1941 and is often referred to as the 'Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test' (RAVLT).
The AVLT requires participants to verbally recall a 15-word list over five learning trials ('immediate' recall) and runs an additional delayed verbal recall trial as well as a recognition test after a 30-minute delay.
Millisecond's AVLT script is based on the Modified Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test (ModRey), a modified version of the RAVLT published by Christiane Hale and colleagues in 2019, for research with non-clinical and pre-clinical populations. The ModRey addresses the often-observed ceiling effects obtained with healthy people that make it difficult to assess memory improvement. Thus, the ModRey can be described as a more difficult variant of the (R)AVLT.
The ModRey differs from the AVLT in the following aspects:
- number of items increased from 15 to 20
- introduction of a distractor word list
- fewer number of learning trials (three instead of five)
- addition of free recall of distractor word list
- addition of a 'source' memory task (original learning list vs. distractor list).
- Longer delay period (90 minutes instead of 30 minutes)
The original ModRey presents the words orally and collects oral responses. Millisecond offers two test variants that differ in how free recall responses are collected.
Oral Recall Responses
The 'oral response' variant plays oral sound files and collects sound captures of the spoken recall responses. These sound captures have to be manually scored for accuracy. Recognition and source responses are collected via keyboard input and are automatically scored by the script.
Written Recall Responses
The 'written response' variant offers the option of verbal or visual word presentation during the learning trials. Recall responses are collected via written input in textboxes and the input is scored by the script automatically. Recognition and source responses are collected via keyboard input and are automatically scored by the script.
Task Procedure
The ModRey procedure is divided into two parts: Part 1 runs the learning trials and tests immediate recall performance. It also introduces the distractor items. Part 2 runs the delayed recall tests as well as the recognition and source memory tasks.
Part 1
Learning and Immediate Recall
Participants are presented a list A of 20 verbal words, one at a time at a speed of 1 word per second. Once the list has finished, participants are asked to recall as many of the list words as they remember, in any order. The list learning/immediate recall task is repeated 2 more times for a total of three rounds.
Introduction of Distractor List
Participants are presented with a second list B of 20 words, one at a time at a speed of 1 word per second. Once the list has finished, participants are asked to recall as many words of this 2nd list as they remember, in any order.
Short Delayed Recall
Participants are asked to remember as many words from the original list A as they remember, in any order.
Part 2 (after delay)
Free Delayed Recall
Participants are asked to remember as many words from the original list A as they remember, in any order.
Free Delayed Recall (Distractor List)
Participants are asked to remember as many words from the distractor list B as they remember, in any order.
Recognition Test
Participants are presented with 66 words, one at a time. Target words are the 20 words from the original list A. The remaining words are phonetically similar words and the 20 words from the distractor list B. Participants are asked to press the 'Q' key whenever they think the word was on the original A list. For any other word, they are asked to press the 'P' key.
Source Test
Participants are presented with 40 words, one at a time. Twenty words are from list A, 20 words are from the distractor list B. Participants are asked to press the 'Q' key whenever they think the word was on the original A list. For words from list 'B', they are asked to press the 'P' key instead.
What it Measures
The ModRey as well as the AVLT are behavioral assessment tests of verbal learning and episodic memory
Psychological domains
- Episodic Memory: Type of declarative long-term memory that involves the recollection of specific event instances or episodes
- Short-term Memory: Temporary storage of information (limited)
- Acquisition: The ability to absorb new information over repeated exposures
- Long-term Memory: Long-term storage of information
- Encoding: Ability to organize and store information in long-term memory
- Retrieval: Ability to retrieve information from long-term memory
- Retention: Ability to hold on information in long-term memory
- Source Monitoring: Ability to hold on to contextual information in long-term memory
- Proactive Interference: When old information (List A) interferes with new information
- Retroactive Interference: When new information (List B) interferes with new information
Main Performance Metrics
- Number of Words Recalled: The number of words correctly recalled during the immediate, short-delayed and long-delayed recall trials
- Recognition Score: The number of correctly identified recognition items
- Source Score: The number of correctly identified source items
Psychiatric Conditions
The ModRey is usually used in research with healthy individuals. AVLT performance is generally impaired in the following patient groups
- Alzheimer Disease (AD)
- Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI)
- Depression
- Schizophrenia
Test Variations
Oral AVLT procedure with immediate recall only - Form 1
Oral AVLT procedure with delayed recall only - Form 1
Oral AVLT procedure with immediate and delayed recall - Form 1
Oral AVLT procedure with immediate recall only - Form 2
Oral AVLT procedure with delayed recall only - Form 2
Oral AVLT procedure with immediate and delayed recall - Form 2
Written AVLT procedure with immediate recall only - Form 1
Written AVLT procedure with delayed recall only - Form 1
Written AVLT procedure with immediate and delayed recall - Form 1
Written AVLT procedure with immediate recall only - Form 2
Written AVLT procedure with delayed recall only - Form 2
Written AVLT procedure with immediate and delayed recall - Form 2
References
Search Google Scholar for peer-reviewed, published research using the Inquisit Auditory Verbal Learning Task (AVLT).
Mandecka, M., Budziszewska, M., Barczak, A., Pepłońska, B., Chodakowska-Żebrowska, M., Filipek-Gliszczyńska, A., . . . Gabryelewicz, T. (2016). Association between Cerebrospinal Fluid Biomarkers for Alzheimer's Disease, APOE Genotypes and Auditory Verbal Learning Task in Subjective Cognitive Decline, Mild Cognitive Impairment, and Alzheimer's Disease. Journal of Alzheimer's Disease, 54(1), 157-168.
Poreh, A., Bezdicek, O., Korobkova, I., Levin, J., & Dines, P. (2016). The Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test forced-choice recognition task: Base-rate data and norms. Applied Neuropsychology. Adult, 23(3), 155-161.
Hale C, Last BS, Meier IB, Yeung LK, Budge M, Sloan RP, Small SA, Brickman AM. The ModRey: An Episodic Memory Test for Nonclinical and Preclinical Populations. Assessment. 2019 Sep;26(6):1154-1161.