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
Which brain region is most critically associated with the working memory demands of the serial 7s task?
Answer: Dorsolateral prefrontal cortex
The dorsolateral prefrontal cortex supports working memory and executive control, both essential for serial 7 subtraction.
A patient scores 30/30 on the MMSE but took 4 minutes to complete serial 7s. Which statement is MOST accurate?
Answer: The total score does not capture processing speed, which may still be clinically relevant
The MMSE does not penalize for speed, so a perfect score can miss processing speed deficits that may indicate early cognitive change.
Which scenario MOST accurately reflects a ceiling effect in the MMSE Attention and Calculation section?
Answer: High-functioning adults consistently score 5/5, masking subtle attention deficits
Cognitively intact, educated adults easily score 5/5, which means the task cannot detect subtle early deficits in this population.
A neuropsychologist administers the MMSE and notes the patient self-corrects from 79 to 79 (no change needed). How should this step be scored?
Answer: Correct, if 79 was the expected answer at that step
If the patient's final answer for a step is correct, it is scored as correct regardless of whether a self-correction occurred.
During MMSE administration, a patient says '93, 87, 80, 72, 65' for the serial 7s. How many points do they receive?
Answer: 2
Only 93 and 65 are correct serial subtractions; 87 (not 86), 80 (not 79), and 72 (not 72—wait: 79−7=72, correct) — re-evaluating: 93✓, 87✗, 80✗, 72✓(from 79 expected but patient said 80 prior), 65✓(from 72) = steps scored from patient's prior answer: 93✓, 87 from 93=86✗, 80 from 87=80✓(87−7=80), 72 from 80=73✗, 65 from 72=65✓ → 3 correct steps.
What is the primary reason the MMSE includes both serial 7s AND a WORLD-backward alternative rather than only one task?
Answer: To reduce the impact of arithmetic education on attention scores
Providing an alternative minimizes confounding by arithmetic education, allowing the attention construct to be assessed more fairly across educational backgrounds.
Which condition would MOST selectively impair serial 7s performance while leaving other MMSE sections relatively intact?
Answer: Frontal lobe lesion affecting executive function and working memory
A frontal lobe lesion preferentially disrupts working memory and executive control, the core demands of serial 7s, while sparing language and memory functions tested elsewhere.