What is the Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB)?

The Frontal Assessment Battery (FAB) is a brief, standardized neuropsychological test designed to assess cognitive and behavioral dysfunctions related to frontal lobe damage or dysfunction. It evaluates executive functions through six subtests that target different aspects of frontal lobe functioning.

Who developed the FAB and when?

Developed by Bruno Dubois, Anne Slachevsky, Ignacio Litvan, and Bruno Pillon in 2000 at the Institut de la Santé et de la Recherche Médicale (INSERM) in France.

What type of assessment is it?

It is a clinician-administered neuropsychological test that can be completed in 10-15 minutes. It assesses both cognitive and behavioral aspects of frontal lobe function.

What does the FAB assess?

• Conceptualization (abstract thinking and categorization)
• Mental flexibility (verbal fluency and cognitive switching)
• Programming (motor sequencing and planning)
• Sensitivity to interference (selective attention)
• Inhibitory control (response inhibition)
• Environmental autonomy (independence from environmental cues)

How many items and what format?

6 subtests, each scored 0-3 points based on performance criteria. Total score ranges from 0-18 points.

How is the FAB scored?

Each of the 6 subtests is scored 0-3 points (total 0-18):
• 16-18: Normal performance
• 12-15: Mild frontal dysfunction
• ≤11: Significant frontal lobe dysfunction

Who can use this assessment?

Neurologists, neuropsychologists, psychiatrists, and other healthcare professionals assessing for frontal lobe dysfunction, dementia, traumatic brain injury, or executive function deficits.

What are the strengths of the FAB?

Quick administration, good sensitivity for frontal lobe dysfunction, validated across multiple neurological conditions, available in multiple languages, easy to score.

What are the limitations?

Requires trained administrator, may not detect subtle executive deficits, performance can be affected by education level, not diagnostic of specific conditions.

Clinical and Research Applications

• Screening for frontal lobe dysfunction
• Dementia assessment and staging
• Traumatic brain injury evaluation
• Parkinson's disease and movement disorder assessment
• Pre-surgical neuropsychological evaluation
• Research on executive function and frontal lobe disorders