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Neurometrics: computer-assisted differential diagnosis of brain dysfunctions
John ER, Prichep LS, Fridman J, Easton P.. Science (New York, N.Y.), 1988-01-01
Topic: Risk, prevention and care in population studies
Normative developmental equations provide reliable descriptors of brain electrical activity in people 6 to 90 years old. Healthy persons display only chance deviations beyond predicted ranges. Patients with neurological impairment, subtle cognitive dysfunctions, or psychiatric disorders (including dementia and primary depression) show a high incidence of abnormal values. The magnitude of the deviations increases with clinical severity. Different disorders are characterized by distinctive profiles of abnormal values of brain electrical features. Computerized differential classification of some of these disorders can be achieved with high accuracy. Such classification, providing objective corroboration of brain dysfunctions, may be a useful adjunct to psychiatric diagnosis, which relies primarily on subjective clinical impressions. These methods may provide independent criteria for diagnostic validity, evaluations of treatment efficacy, and more individualized therapy.
Cite this study APA, Vancouver, BibTeX · download .bib or .ris
APA 7th
John, E. R., Prichep, L. S., Fridman, J., & Easton, P. (1988). Neurometrics: computer-assisted differential diagnosis of brain dysfunctions. Science (New York, N.Y.). https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3336779
Vancouver
John ER, Prichep LS, Fridman J, Easton P. Neurometrics: computer-assisted differential diagnosis of brain dysfunctions. Science (New York, N.Y.). 1988. doi:10.1126/science.3336779. PMID: 3336779.
BibTeX
@article{john1988-3336779,
author = {John, E. R. and Prichep, L. S. and Fridman, J. and Easton, P.},
title = {{Neurometrics: computer-assisted differential diagnosis of brain dysfunctions}},
journal = {Science (New York, N.Y.)},
year = {1988},
doi = {10.1126/science.3336779},
pmid = {3336779},
url = {https://doi.org/10.1126/science.3336779}
}
Built from the record alzhub holds for this paper, not looked up. Volume, issue and page numbers are not held in the record. Check the citation against the original before you use it.
Key findings
- The magnitude of the deviations increases with clinical severity.
- Different disorders are characterized by distinctive profiles of abnormal values of brain electrical features.
- Computerized differential classification of some of these disorders can be achieved with high accuracy.
- Such classification, providing objective corroboration of brain dysfunctions, may be a useful adjunct to psychiatric diagnosis, which relies primarily on subjective clinical impressions.
- These methods may provide independent criteria for diagnostic validity, evaluations of treatment efficacy, and more individualized therapy.
Why it matters
This paper describes computer-assisted analysis of brain electrical activity that can classify some brain dysfunctions, including dementia, with high accuracy. It presents the method as a possible aid to diagnosis, not as a treatment, cure, or prevention.
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Study details
- Evidence strengthLow
How this study scored 49/100
Published in a top-tier journal. Scored zero for study design, sample size, effect reported, studied in people and randomised / blinded because the record does not state it. We have no data on senior author's track record, so that was left out: it earned 47 of the 96 points we could judge it on, which is 49 out of 100.
| Component | Points | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Journal tier | 10 / 10 | Tier 1 — top-tier general journal (Science (New York, N.Y.)) |
| Journal's citation record | 4 / 4 | Science: journal h-index 1,754 (OpenAlex, 2026-10-29) |
| Study design | 0 / 12 | No study design recorded — scores zero, not guessed (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Strength of evidence | 1 / 5 | Rated “low” in our summary |
| Peer-review validation | 10 / 10 | Peer-reviewed. Published as an article in a named peer-reviewed journal. |
| How recent | 1 / 5 | 1988 — older than 20 years, still counted |
| Sample size | 0 / 4 | Participant count not stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Effect reported | 0 / 3 | No effect size reported — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Studied in people | 0 / 3 | Not stated whether this was studied in people — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Randomised / blinded | 0 / 2 | No randomisation or blinding stated — scores zero (not stated in the record — scored 0) |
| Times cited | 6 / 7 | Cited 553 times (OpenAlex, 2026-10-10) |
| Citations per year | 3 / 5 | 13.8 citations a year over 40 year(s) since 1988 |
| Impact for its field and year | 4 / 6 | Cited 14.6× the average for papers of its field and year (OpenAlex FWCI) |
| Cited by studies here | 1 / 6 | Cited by 1 other studies in this library |
| Still being cited | 2 / 4 | Cited 18 times in 2024–2026 (2026 still in progress; OpenAlex) |
| Senior author's track record | — / 4 | Senior author's record not available — left out of this score |
| Institution's track record | 2 / 3 | New York University: institution h-index 1,612 (OpenAlex) |
| Multi-centre collaboration | 1 / 3 | OpenAlex lists 2 institution(s) in 1 country |
| Indexed in PubMed | 2 / 2 | Indexed in PubMed (PMID 3336779) |
| Free to read | 0 / 2 | Behind a paywall — scores zero |
| Points | 47 / 96 | Scored on 19 of 20 parts. We have no data for the rest, so they are left out: 47 of the 96 points we could judge it on is 49 out of 100. |
| Total | 49 / 100 | — |
What each of these 20 components measures, and what this score is not →
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