The Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure is commonly used to assess which cognitive domain?

• A. Visuospatial constructional abilities
• B. Verbal fluency
• C. Auditory processing
• D. Processing speed

Answer: (A)

Visuospatial constructional abilities are what the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure primarily measures. The task asks you to observe a complex figure, understand how its parts relate in space, and plan and execute a drawing that preserves the overall configuration. This blends perceptual organization with visuoconstruction and motor planning. The later recall portion adds a memory element, but the main skill demonstrated by copying the figure is the ability to perceive, organize, and reproduce spatial relationships. Verbal fluency relies on word production, auditory processing on processing sounds, and processing speed on how quickly tasks are done—areas not the primary focus of this figure-drawing task.