Relationship between delayed recall in Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure and executive functioning

Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure (ROCF) is a neuropsychological assessment for the evaluation of visuospatial constructional ability and visual memory. Recent studies emphasize the involvement of executive functions in this test. Purpose. To examinate the relationship between delayed recall of Rey-Osterrieth test with measures of executive and visual mnemomic functioning. Sensitivity of ROCF to detect executive deficits. Methodology. Retrospective study of neuropsychological assessments made on 70 patients with different pathology. Results. Statistical significance between ROCF-Delayed Recall and Matrix Reasoning (r=.50; p<.001), TMT-B (r=.47; p<.001), cognitive flexibility measure (WCST) (r=.41; p=.001), percent conceptual level responses (r=.40; p=.001) and visual delayed recall (r=.26; p=.032). Statistical significance between ROCF-Copy with Matrix Reasoning (r=.40; p=.001) and TMT-B (r=.37; p=.003), but no with other executive or memory tests. ROC analysis adequate sensitivity and specificity in the executive measures are observed, with significant areas under the curve similar to those obtained with the score ROCF-Delayed Recall (A=.754; p=.001). Discussion. ROCF-Delayed Recall reflects executive functioning related to planning, rather than visual memory. Planning is not reflected in the ROCF-C score, which may be normal in the presence of executive dysfunction.