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Attention and Calculation Flashcards

7 cards from real MMSE practice questions. Tap to flip, then mark Knew It or Still Learning — missed cards come back until you master them.

Read the first 7 Attention and Calculation flashcards as text

  1. When scoring WORLD spelled backward as 'DLROW', how does the examiner determine the score?

    Answer: One point per letter in the correct position (max 5)

    Each letter of 'DLROW' in the correct position earns 1 point, giving a maximum of 5 points for a perfect reversal.

  2. A patient spells WORLD backward as 'DLRWO'. How many points do they earn?

    Answer: 3

    D, L, and R are in positions 1, 2, and 3 correctly (D=1, L=2, R=3), but W and O are transposed, so 3 points are earned.

  3. Which of the following BEST describes why the Attention and Calculation subsection is sensitive to early cognitive decline?

    Answer: It demands simultaneous holding and manipulation of information in working memory

    Working memory capacity—needed to track a running total while performing repeated subtraction—is one of the earliest cognitive abilities to decline.

  4. An examiner administers serial 7s and the patient stops after 93, saying they cannot continue. The score should be:

    Answer: 1 out of 5

    One correct subtraction (100 − 7 = 93) earns 1 point; stopping after that step means no additional points are awarded.

  5. How does the serial 7s task specifically engage the prefrontal cortex?

    Answer: It requires executive control to inhibit irrelevant thoughts while maintaining a calculation sequence

    The prefrontal cortex mediates executive functions such as working memory maintenance and interference suppression, both demanded by serial 7s.

  6. A patient being assessed with the MMSE is deaf and cannot hear verbal instructions. Which adaptation is MOST appropriate for the Attention and Calculation section?

    Answer: Provide written instructions and allow the patient to write responses

    Written instructions and responses preserve the integrity of the cognitive assessment while accommodating the patient's sensory limitation.

  7. Which score on the Attention and Calculation subsection of the MMSE is associated with possible cognitive impairment when considered alongside other subsection scores?

    Answer: 2 or below out of 5

    A score of 2 or below on this subsection often contributes to a total MMSE score below 24, which is a commonly used threshold for cognitive impairment.