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Ward Halstead made innumerable contributions to psychology and is remembered for his practical approach to examining brain damaged people, which led to the development of the famous Halstead-Reitan Battery (HRB). The HRB can be used for finding 'location,' 'type,' and 'status' of brain lesions. The HRB has also led to the evolution of REHABIT, a successful rehabilitation program.

Hom and Reitan (1982) reported findings with respect to sensorimotor deficits in groups with lateralized cerebral lesions, but evaluated the results only within a framework that related cerebral dominance to deficits that resulted from lateralized lesions. Some of the variables they studied, however, depend upon evidence of retention of functions by one hemisphere under conditions of distracting input. While the right cerebral hemisphere appears to be dominant for tactile-perceptual abilities in terms of resulting deficits, the present study suggests that the left cerebral hemisphere is dominant for certain non-language functions that reflect maintenance of sensory-perceptual abilities under conditions of distracting stimuli.

A short screening battery, drawn from the Halstead-Reitan Battery, for differential identification of brain-damaged and healthychildren was developed. Results indicate the screening index had an accuracy rate of 92 percent in differentiating the brain-damaged subjects from the controls. When applied to validational groups, an 86 percent accuracy rate was achieved. (Author/BL)

An impairment index of brain functions in children was developed to summarize the performance on the Halstead-Reitan Neurological Test Battery for older children aged 9 through 14 years. Findings suggested that it may be a valid and objective indicator of brain functions in older children, although cross-validation is necessary. (Author/CL)

Examined the pattern of higher level versus lower level deficits in brain-impaired children compared with normal children. Higher level functions included general neuropsychological functioning and verbal/academic skills; lower level functions included sensory and motor skills. Showed the brain-impaired group to be significantly poorer in each area of ability except sensory measures. (Author/ABB)

Investigated whether men and women produced similar Verbal Intelligence Quotient (IQ) and Performance IQ patterns following unilateral cerebral lesions. No consistent evidence of Sex X Lesioned Hemisphere interactions was found. Differences in the lateralization effects between men and women were not reflected in direction or pattern but only in magnitude. (Author/ABB)