[Importance of the neuropsychological assessment of memory in the clinical practice]. / Importancia de la evaluación neuropsicológica de la memoria en la práctica clínica.

Memory assessment is used to diagnose possible disturbances of this function and to relate the findings to their neurological implications and to the issues of clinical treatment and prognosis. Neuropsychological examination of memory function involves (a) the administration of objective procedures that are proven sensitive to the effects of brain injury, and specific to the changes due to functional impairment, and (b) the integration of statistical and observational findings that demonstrate a consistent pattern of results that are commonly seen with specific brain disorders. Analysis of the pattern of performance among the tests is key to a good understanding of the results; thus, the selection of tests used should sample a wide range of memory domains. This paper analyzes the most frequently measuring instruments in neuropsychological assessment of memory, as well as the main batteries and tests used to evaluate the existence or absence of mnesic deficits.