FAB (FRONTAL ASSESSMENT BATTERY)
1. Similarities (conceptualisation)
“In what way are they alike?”
A banana and an orange (If incorrect, provide answer as fruit but do not prompt for others)
A table and a chair
A tulip, a rose, and a daisy
Score: Only category responses (fruit, furniture, flowers) are considered correct
Three correct: 3, Two correct: 2, One correct: 1, None correct: 0
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2. Lexical fluency (mental flexibility)
“Say as many words as you can beginning with the letter ‘S’, any words except
surnames or proper nouns ”. (The time allowed is 60 seconds).
Score: Word repetitions or variations (shoe, shoemaker), surnames, or proper nouns are not counted
More than nine words: 3, Six to nine words: 2, Three to five words: 1, Less than three words: 0
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3. Motor Series (programming)
“Look carefully at what I’m doing”. (Perform alone three times with left hand, the series
“fist-edge-palm”. “ Now with your right hand do the same, first with me, then alone.”
(Perform the series three times with the patient) “Now do it on your own”.
Score: Patient performs six correct consecutive series alone: 3
Patient performs at least three correct consecutive series alone: 2
Patient fails alone, but performs three correct consecutive series with the examiner: 1
Patient cannot perform three consecutive series, even with the examiner: 0
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4. Conflicting Instructions (sensitivity to interference)
“Tap twice when I tap once” (Demonstrate with a series of three trials: 1-1-1).
“Tap once when I tap twice” (Demonstrate with a series of three trials: 2-2-2).
(Perform the following series: 1-1-2-1-2-2-2-1-1-2).
Score: No error: 3, One or two errors: 2, More than two errors: 1, Patient taps like the examiner at
least four consecutive times: 0
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5. Go-No Go (inhibitory control)
“Tap once when I tap once” (Demonstrate a series of three trials: 1-1-1).
“Do not tap when I tap twice” (Demonstrate a series of three trials: 2-2-2).
(Perform the following series: 1-1-2-1-2-2-2-1-1-2).
Score: No error: 3, One or two errors: 2, More than two errors: 1, Patient taps like the examiner at
least four consecutive times: 0
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6. Prehension behaviour (environmental autonomy)
(Place the patient’s hand palm up on his/her knees. Without saying anything or looking at the patient,
bring your hands close to the patient’s hands and touch the palms of both the patient’s hands, to see if
he/she will spontaneously take them. If the patient takes your hands, try again after asking him/her)
“Now, do not take my hand”.
Score: Patient does not take the examiner’s hands: 3
Patient hesitates and asks what he/she has to do: 2
Patient takes the hands without hesitation: 1
Patient takes the examiner’s hands even after told not to do so: 0
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Cut off for normal performance = 15 Total Score
www.MedStudentNotes.comCLOCK DRAWING TASK
“Draw in the numbers of a clock face below”.
“Now draw in the hands that show the time as ‘ten past eleven’.”
Scoring
10: normal drawing, number and hands in approximately correct positions, hour hand
distinctly different from minute hand.
9: Slight errors in placement of hands, or one missing number on clock face.
8: More noticeable errors in placement of hour and minute hand (off by one number),
number spacing showing gaps.
7: Placement of hands significantly off course (more than one number), very inappropriate
spacing of numbers (eg, all on one side).
6: Inappropriate use of clock hands (digital display or circling of numbers despite repeated
instructions), crowding of numbers at one end of the clock, or reversal of numbers.
5: Perseverative or otherwise inappropriate arrangement of numbers (eg, numbers
indicated by dots), hands may be represented but do not clearly point to a number.
4: Numbers absent, written outside of clock or in distorted sequence, integrity of clock
face is missing, hands not clearly represented or drawn outside of clock.
3: Numbers and clock face no longer connected in the drawing, hands not recognisably
present.
2: Drawing reveals some evidence of instructions received but representation of clock is
only vague, inappropriate spatial arrangement of numbers.
1: Irrelevant, uninterpretable figure or no attempt.
Key to assess:
8 – 10: Normal
1 – 7: Abnormal
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