What is California Verbal Learning Test?

The California Verbal Learning Test is one of the most widely used neuropsychological tests in North America. As an instrument, it represents a relatively new approach to clinical psychology and the cognitive science of memory. It measures episodic verbal learning and memory, and demonstrates sensitivity to a range of clinical conditions. The test does this by attempting to link memory deficits with impaired performance on specific tasks. It assesses encoding, recall and recognition in a single modality of item presentation. The CVLT is considered to be a more sensitive measure of episodic memory than other verbal learning tests. It was designed to not only measure how much a subject learned, but also reveal strategies employed and the types of errors made. The CVLT indexes free and cued recall, serial position effects , semantic clustering, intrusions, interference and recognition. Delis et al. released the California Verbal Learning Test for Children. The California Verbal Learning Test-II is an updated version of the original CVLT, which has been standardized and provides normative data.