[Research and elaboration of a series of psychological tests for studying the quality of memory in old people (author's transl)].

Two series of mnesic tests were elaborated for experimental purposes by grouping and adapting traditional memory tests. The first set gives an overall study of the individual by assessing his short-term retention abilities. The second set is more specific and measures essentially his learning capabilities and the memorizing processes. These test series were designed to furnish both an instantaneous evaluation of the individual in relation to a group and a longitudinal evaluation of his abilities. Rather than assessing the mnesic capital, the test series evaluate the dynamic forms of memory expression which underlie every mnemonic operation, such as: memory span (or field of apprehension), retention processes, recognition, identification, spontaneous reminiscence, induced reminiscence (or associative memory), learning abilities on the basis of both concrete and practical as well as abstract and verbal material. They represent a psychometric tool permitting comparisons through a range of retests and quantifiable scoring of results. But they are also a clinical instrument, in the sense that the processes of the various intellectual functions can be qualitatively apprehended.