B – 93 Cultural Fairness in Memory Assessment Using the Digitized Picture Memory Interference Test

Abstract Objective This study evaluates whether a digitized version of the World Health Organization’s Picture Memory Interference Test (PMIT), developed during the early stages of the HIV epidemic, provides a culturally fair assessment of memory. Unlike traditional word-based tests, the PMIT uses images to reduce linguistic bias and focus purely on memory. By eliminating language, this approach seeks to create a culturally fair tool for cognitive evaluation across diverse populations. Method The digitized PMIT was administered to UCLA students from 15 different language groups. This study analyzes accuracy and response times between first-language English (n=8,301) and Spanish (n=1,364) speakers. Participants viewed and recalled images across three sets. To validate cultural fairness, data from the word-based PMIT (n = 2,238) was compared. Results In the PMIT, accuracy was equivalent (p = 1.0) across English (mean = 135.7, sd = 12.0) and Spanish speakers (mean = 135.3, sd = 12.4), but response times differed slightly (English: mean = 821.4ms, Spanish: mean = 878.5ms, p < .0001). However, the word-based version showed a nearly significant difference in accuracy between Spanish (mean = 121.7) and English speakers (mean = 125.0, p = .0514). Conclusion The digitized PMIT marks a significant advancement in culturally fair memory assessment, with no noticeable difference in performance across multiple language groups. As a modern adaptation of the WHO’s neuropsychological test, it remains clinically relevant today due to its continuous use on populations cognitively affected by HIV. By eliminating language-based barriers and digitizing it, the PMIT represents an important advancement in equitable, cross-cultural neuropsychological testing.