Attention and Concentration Flashcards

In the MoCA serial 7 subtraction task, how many subtractions does the patient perform?

Answer: Five

The patient subtracts 7 from 100 five consecutive times (100, 93, 86, 79, 72, 65).

What score does a patient receive on the MoCA serial 7s task if they get 3 out of 5 correct?

Answer: 2 points

The MoCA awards 2 points for 3-4 correct subtractions in the serial 7s task.

Which cognitive process is primarily assessed by the MoCA digit span forward task?

Answer: Phonological short-term memory

Digit span forward measures phonological short-term memory, the ability to hold and repeat a sequence without manipulation.

In the MoCA digit span backward task, the examiner reads a sequence and asks the patient to repeat it:

Answer: In reverse order

The backward digit span requires the patient to reverse the sequence, engaging working memory and mental manipulation.

What is the target letter in the MoCA letter vigilance (A) task?

Answer: A

The patient must tap whenever the letter 'A' is heard during a random sequence of letters read aloud.

On the MoCA letter vigilance task, each error — either a missed target or a tap on a non-target — results in:

Answer: Losing the 1 point available for the task

Two or more errors on the vigilance task result in a score of 0; the patient either earns 1 point or 0.

Which MoCA attention subtest specifically measures sustained attention over time?

Answer: Letter vigilance (Tap A)

The letter vigilance task requires maintaining focus over a prolonged randomized sequence, making it the primary measure of sustained attention.