The effects of time of exposure on tactual performance test memory and location scores.

This study investigated the effects of length of exposure on Tactual Performance Test (TPT) memory and location scores. Forty-five normal, non-brain-injured adults 18 to 45 years old were administered the TPT. Results indicated a significant effect of TPT time on TPT memory and TPT location scores, suggesting that time to completion may be a significant predictor of outcome. The group completing the tasks most rapidly was also the group that most successfully remembered the shapes and their locations. Consequently, clinicians should not expect patients who do poorly on the problem-solving portion of the TPT to do well on the memory component, owing to their length of exposure to the apparatus.