higher mental function
Last reviewed 12/2022
The following are points in a neurological examination that relate to higher mental function:
- right or left handedness
- level of arousal:
- awake and alert
- drowsy
- stuporous
- comatose
- the Glasgow coma score may be used
- orientation: in person, place, date
- commands:
- one step midline - "stick out your tongue"
- one step limb - "show three fingers"
- two step - "point to the ceiling and floor"
- three step - "take paper, fold, put on floor"
- crossing the midline - "touch left ear with right finger"
- memory:
- 3 objects - immediate recall, e.g. Birmingham, Winston Churchill, shoe.
- cognitive functioning- spell WORLD forwards and backwards, proverb interpretation, digit span, maths.
- language & free speech:
- name some objects, e.g. finger, watch
- repetition "no ifs ands or buts" - tests Broca's area
- memory - recall the three objects