Verbal fluency and figural fluency in bright children

Percept Mot Skills. 1985 Dec;61(3 Pt 1):699-709. doi: 10.2466/pms.1985.61.3.699.

Abstract

Intellectually bright children in Grades 2, 4, and 6 from one school and adults were assessed on measures of verbal and on a new measure of figural fluency. Consistent with previous research, age-dependent performance was observed on both fluency tasks. Analysis of covariance with motor speed as the covariate reduced the F ratio for the figural task, although age-related significant differences persisted. Results suggest that age-related improvement of performance on fluency measures with intellectually bright subjects differs from that for intellectually average subjects. Hypotheses are also advanced regarding the proposed reliable figural-fluency task as preferable to previously employed nonverbal measures, suggesting a more valid dissociation of function. These preliminary findings encourage further research on the age- and IQ-related aspects of verbal and figural fluency.

Publication types

  • Research Support, U.S. Gov't, P.H.S.

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Child
  • Child Development
  • Female
  • Form Perception*
  • Humans
  • Intelligence*
  • Male
  • Neuropsychological Tests
  • Pattern Recognition, Visual*
  • Psychomotor Performance
  • Reaction Time
  • Verbal Behavior*
  • Vocabulary