Using the Tactile Form Recognition Test to differentiate persons with brain damage from control subjects

The Tactile Form Recognition (TFR) Test, which evaluates stereognosis in each hand and requires less than 15 min for administration, was given individually to 50 persons with brain damage and 50 controls who were essentially equivalent in age and education. Scores for the two groups yielded mean values that were different at a statistically significant level. Evaluation of the two distributions of scores yielded a cutoff score that had an accuracy rate of 82% for the controls and 84% for the persons with brain damage. The results suggest that the TFR Test is a valid and useful procedure for differentiating persons with brain damage from controls and, thus, can serve effectively, in conjunction with tests of higher-level brain functions, in neuropsychological evaluation of individual persons.