Methodology for creating and validating object naming and semantic tests used by Verst-Maldaun Language Assessment during awake craniotomies

• Published in: Clinical neurology and neurosurgery Vol. 202; p. 106485
• Main Authors: Verst, Silvia Mazzali, de Castro, Isac, Scappini-Junior, Wilson, de Melo, Mônica Nascimento, de Oliveira, Jean Ramos, de Almeida, Soraya Soares, Alvarez, Nathalia Raquel Cristaldo, Sucena, Andrea Caivano Broisler, Barros, Maria Rufina, Marrone, Carlo Domenico, Maldaun, Marcos Vinicius Calfat
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Netherlands Elsevier B.V 01-03-2021; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Adolescent; Adult; Age; Aged; Aged, 80 and over; Awake craniotomies; Brazil; Child; Craniotomy; Educational Status; Employees; Female; Gender; Humans; Intraoperative Neurophysiological Monitoring - methods; Language; Language brain; Language test validation; Language Tests; Male; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Pyramid and Palm Tree Test; Reference Values; Reproducibility of Results; Semantic; Semantics; Surgery; Values; Wakefulness; Young Adult; Brazil; Language test validation; Awake craniotomies; Language brain; Semantic; Pyramid and Palm Tree Test
• ISSN: 0303-8467; 1872-6968
• DOI: 10.1016/j.clineuro.2021.106485

•It is the first Portuguese speakers native Brazilians language test validation directed to awake craniotomies. It was adjusted error rate according to age, gender and educational level.•Step by step description, so teaching other groups how to develop their own assays. It brings innovation in robust statistical methodology.•It covers the areas of object naming and semantics (with 2 separate tests).•It will be made available free of charge for worldwide access: vemotests.com (starting February, 2021).
Verst-Maldaun Language Assessment (VMLA) is a new intraoperative neuropsychological test (NT) within our local culture, e.g., native Portuguese speaking Brazilians. It aims to fill the specific need of an objective and dynamic approach for assessing the language network during awake craniotomies. The test includes object naming (ON) and semantic functions.
This paper describes the process of validation, allowing for other centers to create their own language assessment.
The validation process included 248 volunteers and the results were associated with age, gender and educational level (EL). The factor with the greatest impact was EL, followed by age. Intraoperative image learning by repetition is unlikely, since it is composed of 388 items and 70 combinations.
The test will be available for free use under http://www.vemotests.com/ (beginning in February 2021).