Abstract

Objective

The present paper describes the methodology and sample characteristics of the Neuropsychological Norms for the U.S.-Mexico Border Region in Spanish (NP-NUMBRS) Project, which aimed to generate demographically-adjusted norms for a battery of neuropsychological tests in this population.

Methods

The sample consisted of 254 healthy Spanish-speakers, ages 19-60 years, recruited from the U.S.-Mexico border regions of Arizona (n = 102) and California (n = 152). Participants completed a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery assessing multiple domains (verbal fluency, speed of information processing, attention/working memory, executive function, learning and memory, visual-spatial skills and fine motor skills). Fluency in both Spanish and English was assessed with performance-based measures. Other culturally-relevant data on educational, social, and language background were obtained via self-report. Demographic influences on test performances were modeled using fractional polynomial equations that allow consideration of linear and non-linear effects.

Results

There were no significant demographic differences between participants tested in Arizona and California. Age and gender were similar across education ranges. Two thirds of the sample were Spanish dominant and the remainder were considered bilingual. Individual articles in this Special Issue detail the generation of demographically adjusted T-scores for the various tests in the battery as well as an exploration of bilingualism effects.

Discussion

Norms developed through the NP-NUMBRS project stand to improve the diagnostic accuracy of neuropsychological assessment in Spanish-speaking young-to-middle-aged adults living in the U.S.-Mexico border region. Application of the present norms to other groups should be done with caution.

中文翻译：

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西班牙美墨边境地区神经心理学规范 (NP-NUMBRS) 项目：方法和样本特征

 抽象的

 客观的

本文描述了西班牙美墨边境地区神经心理学规范 (NP-NUMBRS) 项目的方法和样本特征，该项目旨在为该人群的一系列神经心理学测试生成人口调整后的规范。

 方法

样本由 254 名年龄在 19-60 岁之间的健康西班牙语使用者组成，他们是从美国和墨西哥边境地区的亚利桑那州 ( n = 102) 和加利福尼亚州 ( n = 152) 招募的。参与者完成了全面的神经心理学测试，评估多个领域（语言流畅性、信息处理速度、注意力/工作记忆、执行功能、学习和记忆、视觉空间技能和精细运动技能）。西班牙语和英语的流利程度是通过基于表现的衡量标准进行评估的。其他有关教育、社会和语言背景的文化相关数据是通过自我报告获得的。使用分数多项式方程对人口统计对测试性能的影响进行建模，该方程允许考虑线性和非线性效应。

 结果

亚利桑那州和加利福尼亚州的测试参与者之间没有显着的人口统计学差异。不同教育程度的年龄和性别相似。三分之二的样本以西班牙语为主，其余的被认为是双语者。本期特刊中的个别文章详细介绍了电池中各种测试的人口统计调整 T 分数的生成以及对双语效应的探索。

 讨论

通过 NP-NUMBRS 项目制定的规范将提高生活在美墨边境地区讲西班牙语的青壮年神经心理学评估的诊断准确性。将现行规范应用于其他群体应谨慎行事。