Critical Care Registered Nurse (CCRN) Practice Exam

Which test involves asking the patient to close their eyes and note where they are touched?

1. Point localization

2. Graphesthesia

3. Stereognosis

4. Extinction

The correct answer is: Point localization

The test involving asking a patient to close their eyes and note where they are touched is known as point localization. This assessment evaluates the sensory pathways functioning in the nervous system by determining the patient's ability to identify the exact point of touch on the skin without visual cues. It tests both the sensory perception and the integration of that information in the brain. In this test, a clinician lightly touches various points on the patient's body, typically in a random manner, and asks the patient to identify where the touch occurred with their eyes closed. Effective performance indicates intact sensory pathways and appropriate cortical processing. Other sensory tests mentioned, such as graphesthesia, involve the patient's ability to recognize shapes or letters drawn on their skin, while stereognosis assesses the ability to identify objects by feel alone. Extinction tests the ability to perceive stimuli on both sides of the body; it does not focus on identifying specific touch points. Thus, point localization is distinct in its focus on identifying the precise location of a stimulus.