Standardization of the Face‐Hand Test

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Abstract
Four classes of positive face-hand tests were found in testing large groups of normal subjects and patients with functional psychoses and organic psychoses. A positive face-hand test is designated as one in which errors persist after the 10th trial. Four classes of positive face-hand tests are recorded. A 1-plus face-hand test consists of extinction only with touch stimuli. A 2-plus response is characterized by extinction with pinprick and rubbing stimuli, as well as with touch stimuli. A 3-plus response consists of extinction and displacement with touch, rubbing, and pinprick stimuli. A 4-plus response has all the characteristics of a 3-plus response and in addition at least 1 of the following features: exosomesthesia; allesthesia; perseveration of responses; occurrence of errors even while the subject observes application of the stimuli. Three-plus and 4-plus responses in adults invariably indicate disease of the brain. One-plus and 2-plus responses occur in patients with brain disease but are also manifested by a small number of normal adults and patients with psychogenic disorders. Patients with a 4-plus response show the severest mental changes, but the converse is not true. Usefulness of this classification in the study of patients clinically and in exptl. work is suggested.

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