Abstract Background The Confusion, Hubbub, and Order Scale (CHAOS in English Version) was originally developed in the USA by Matheny et al (Bringing order out of chaos: psychometric characteristics of the confusion, hubbub, and order scale. Journal of Applied Developmental Psychology 16(3):429–444, 1995) to measure chaos in the family environment, characterized by confusion, lack of routine, and organization. Objective To present evidence of content validity, internal structure validity, and validity based on relationships with external measures of an adapted version of the CHAOS into Brasilian Portuguese with adolescents sample in São Paulo - Brasil. Method Study 1 involved the translation/back-translation and adaptation of the scale into Brazilian Portuguese [here named “Escala de Confusão, Alvoroço e Ordem no Sistema familiar” (CAOS)], assessed by 5 judges. In Study 2, we conducted an exploratory factor analyses (EFA) to determine the scale’s factor structure (N= 180 adults). In Study 3, we carried out confirmatory factor analyses (CFA) to confirm the internal validity of the scale, along with complete structural equation modeling to explore convergent validity in another sample (N=239 adolescents). Results The CAOS scale displayed content validity, and the EFA and CFA showed a unifactorial structure (with some scale adjustments) with an acceptable fit. The family chaos latent factor was associated with externalizing symptoms and perceived stress in adolescents. Conclusion Overall, the Brazilian version of the scale presented evidence of construct, internal, and concurrent validity that indicate its usefulness in Brazil. Confusion Hubbub Version Bringing confusion hubbub 163429–444, 163429444 16 3 429–444, 429 444 16(3):429–444 1995 environment routine organization Brasil translation/backtranslation translationbacktranslation translation/back translation back here Escala Confusão familiar CAOS, , (CAOS)] judges 2 (EFA scales s N= N (N 18 adults. adults . adults) (CFA N=239 N239 239 (N=23 adolescents) adjustments fit Overall construct Brazil 163429 163429–444 16342944 429444 429–444 42 44 16(3):429–44 199 backtranslation translationback (CAOS) N=23 N23 23 (N=2 16342 163429–44 1634294 42944 429–44 4 16(3):429–4 19 (CAOS N=2 N2 1634 163429–4 4294 429–4 16(3):429– 163 163429– 429– 16(3):429 16(3):42 16(3):4 16(3): 16(3) 16(3 16(

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To determine whether scores in an adapted version of the self-assessment Pubertal Development Scale into Portuguese match those from the gold standard in pubertal development (Tanner scale). METHODS This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 133 children and adolescents aged nine to 17 years (59 males; mean age of 13 years and six months, with standard deviation = 25 months). Youngsters completed the Pubertal Development Scale and were then examined by specialists in adolescent medicine. RESULTS Exact absolute agreement of pubertal stages were modest, but significant associations between measures (correlation; intra-class correlation coefficients of consistency) showed that the Pubertal Development Scale adequately measures changes that map onto pubertal development determined by physical examination, on par with international publications. Furthermore, scores obtained from each Pubertal Development Scale question reflected adequate gonadal and adrenal events assessed by clinical ratings, mostly with medium/high effect sizes. Latent factors obtained from scores on all Pubertal Development Scale questions had excellent fit indices in Confirmatory Factor Analyses and correlated with Tanner staging. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that self-assessment of body changes by youngsters using the Portuguese version of the Pubertal Development Scale is useful when estimates of pubertal progression are sufficient, and exact agreement with clinical staging is not necessary. The Pubertal Development Scale is, therefore, a reliable instrument for use in large-scale studies in Brazil that aim at investigating adolescent health related to pubertal developmental. The translated version and scoring systems are provided.

ABSTRACT OBJECTIVE To determine whether scores in an adapted version of the self-assessment Pubertal Development Scale into Portuguese match those from the gold standard in pubertal development (Tanner scale). METHODS This was a cross-sectional study with a convenience sample of 133 children and adolescents aged nine to 17 years (59 males; mean age of 13 years and six months, with standard deviation = 25 months). Youngsters completed the Pubertal Development Scale and were then examined by specialists in adolescent medicine. RESULTS Exact absolute agreement of pubertal stages were modest, but significant associations between measures (correlation; intra-class correlation coefficients of consistency) showed that the Pubertal Development Scale adequately measures changes that map onto pubertal development determined by physical examination, on par with international publications. Furthermore, scores obtained from each Pubertal Development Scale question reflected adequate gonadal and adrenal events assessed by clinical ratings, mostly with medium/high effect sizes. Latent factors obtained from scores on all Pubertal Development Scale questions had excellent fit indices in Confirmatory Factor Analyses and correlated with Tanner staging. CONCLUSIONS We conclude that self-assessment of body changes by youngsters using the Portuguese version of the Pubertal Development Scale is useful when estimates of pubertal progression are sufficient, and exact agreement with clinical staging is not necessary. The Pubertal Development Scale is, therefore, a reliable instrument for use in large-scale studies in Brazil that aim at investigating adolescent health related to pubertal developmental. The translated version and scoring systems are provided.

O teste Memória Lógica da Wechsler Memory Scale - Revised (WMS-R) é amplamente utilizado na prática clínica como instrumento de avaliação da memória verbal. O objetivo deste estudo foi analisar as propriedades psicométricas iniciais de versões alternativas das histórias traduzidas e livremente adaptadas da WMS-R empregadas no Brasil: três histórias equiparáveis à história Ana Soares e três à de Roberto Mota. A amostra foi constituída de 655 universitários, com idades entre 18 e 35 anos. Foi solicitada a recordação livre imediata e tardia (após 30 min) de cada história, original e alternativas. A análise de equivalência entre a recordação imediata e tardia das histórias alternativas e originais mostrou que cinco histórias foram memorizadas de forma equiparável às histórias originais se aplicadas individualmente. A recordação de três pares dessas histórias alternativas também foi equivalente à recordação do par original. Uma análise utilizando a Teoria de Resposta ao Item apontou os itens com melhor índice discriminativo. Assim, propõe-se histórias alternativas às do WMS-R que poderão ser usadas em estudos de normatização.

The Logical Memory test of the Wechsler Memory Scale - Revised (WMS-R) is widely used in clinical practice as a tool for verbal memory assessment. The aim of this study was to examine the initial psychometric properties of alternative versions of the stories translated and freely adapted from WMS -R used in Brazil: three stories comparable to Ana Soares' and three to Roberto Mota's stories. The sample consisted of 655 adults aged between 18 and 35 years. Immediate and delayed free recall of each original and alternative story was requested. The analysis of equivalence between the recall of alternative and original stories showed that five stories proved equivalent to the original stories, if applied individually. Recall of three pairs of these alternative stories was also equivalent to that of the original pair. An analysis using Item Response Theory (IRT) showed the items with best discriminative index. Therefore, the alternative stories proposed here can be used in normalization studies.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to investigate neuropsychological performance and biomarkers of oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnea and the relationships between these factors. METHODS: This was an observational, cross-sectional study of 14 patients (36.0±6.5 years old) with obstructive sleep apnea and 13 controls (37.3±6.9 years old). All of the participants were clinically evaluated and underwent full-night polysomnography as well as neuropsychological tests. Blood samples were used to assay superoxide dismutase, catalase, glutathione and homocysteine, as well as vitamins E, C, B11 and B12. RESULTS: The patients performed poorly relative to the controls on several neuropsychological tests, such as the attention test and tests of long-term memory and working memory/executive function. They also had lower levels of vitamin E (p<0.006), superoxide dismutase (p<0.001) and vitamin B11 (p<0.001), as well as higher concentrations of homocysteine (p<0.02). Serum concentrations of vitamin C, catalase, glutathione and vitamin B12 were unaltered. Vitamin E levels were related to performance in the backward digit span task (F = 15.9; p = 0.002) and this correlation remained after controlling for age and body mass index (F = 6.3, p = 0.01). A relationship between superoxide dismutase concentrations and executive non-perseveration errors in the Wisconsin Card Sorting Test (F = 7.9; p = 0.01) was also observed. CONCLUSIONS: Decreased levels of antioxidants and lower performance on the neuropsychological tasks were observed in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. This study suggests that an imbalance between antioxidants and pro-oxidants may contribute to neuropsychological alterations in this patient population.

Neste artigo é descrito um sistema com potencial para identificar a privação do sono, que, com base no levantamento bibliográfico realizado, ainda não foi abordado na literatura. Este sistema integra simultaneamente duas metodologias, o teste de vigilância psicomotora (Psychomotor vigilance test, PVT) e a pupilometria, que se destacam no estudo da privação do sono. Entretanto, para atender às peculiaridades destas metodologias, permitindo que coexistam em um único sistema, algumas adaptações foram realizadas em seus procedimentos. Esta integração poderá garantir não só a complementariedade de indicadores que torna a identificação da privação do sono mais robusta, assim como estabelecer a equalização do estado psicofisiológico do sujeito, o que não é possível em testes realizados com defasagem temporal. Neste estudo, a validação das métricas do sistema foi realizada com sujeitos em estado de alerta. Os resultados mostraram-se coerentes com a literatura. Entretanto, algumas métricas apresentam um deslocamento em seus valores médios, que segundo as avaliações realizadas são determinadas pelas exigências técnicas do sistema. Os resultados obtidos nesta avaliação, somados à crescente demanda de ferramentas de aplicação em larga escala e que possam ser utilizadas além dos limites laboratoriais para estudos em distúrbios e privação do sono, apontam este sistema como uma potencial ferramenta. Entretanto, será necessário o estabelecimento de um experimento rigoroso, para avaliar se os indicadores oriundos das métricas do sistema permitem a identificação robusta da privação do sono.

This paper describes a system with potential for identification of sleep deprivation, which, based on our bibliographical survey, has not yet been described in the literature. The system combines two methodologies, i. e., Psychomotor vigilance test (PVT) and pupillometry, which are among the leading methods for the study of sleep deprivation. However, due to peculiarities of both methodologies, some adaptations were made in their procedures to allow them to co-exist in the same system. Such integration may not only ensure the complementarity of indexes, making the identification of sleep deprivation more solid, but also set up the equalization of the subject's psycho-physiological state, which is not possible in tests performed with a time lag. In this study, the performance of measurements provided by the system was assessed in subjects on alert. However, some measurements present a displacement with respect to their average values, which, according to assessment, are determined by system's technical requirements. The results obtained in this assessment, combined with the increasing demand for large scale application tools, able to be used outside the limits of the laboratory environment for studies in sleep deprivation disorders, point to this system as a potential tool. However, the undertaking of a rigorous experiment is necessary to assess whether the indexes obtained by the system allow the robust identification of sleep deprivation.

Pacientes com esclerose múltipla (EM) apresentam prejuízo de memória episódica possivelmente em decorrência de um déficit no funcionamento da memória operacional (MO). Se assim fosse, alterações de MO seriam necessariamente encontradas em pacientes com déficit de memória episódica, mas isto ainda não foi demonstrado. Neste estudo tivemos como objetivo determinar se déficits de memória episódica em pacientes com EM recorrente-remitente são encontrados em associação com prejuízo de MO. Avaliamos 32 pacientes com EM pareados com 32 voluntários saudáveis. Dezenove dos 32 pacientes apresentaram prejuízo de memória episódica, e como grupo, somente estes indivíduos apresentaram déficit na capacidade de MO, o que deve resultar na dificuldade de codificar, e /ou recuperar informações da memória episódica.

Episodic memory is impaired in multiple sclerosis (MS) patients, possibly because of deficits in working memory (WM) functioning. If so, WM alterations should necessarily be found in patients with episodic memory deficits, but this has not yet been demonstrated. In this study we aimed at determining whether episodic memory deficits in relapsing-remitting MS are found in conjunction with impaired WM. We evaluated 32 MS patients and 32 matched healthy controls. Nineteen of the 32 patients had episodic memory impairment, and as a group only these individuals showed deficits in WM capacity, which may lead to difficulty in encoding, and/or retrieving information from episodic memory.

OBJETIVOS: comparar o perfil neuropsicológico de crianças eutróficas, desnutridas pregressas e crônicas, em idade escolar, e analisar o papel de fatores, socioeconômicas, no seu desenvolvimento cognitivo. MÉTODOS: foram avaliadas crianças de ambos os sexos, 27 eutróficas, 31 desnutridas pregressas e 15 desnutridas crônicas, de 7 a 10 anos de idade, de uma comunidade carente da cidade de São Paulo. A avaliação incluiu funções cognitivas pouco investigadas nessa população; memória operacional, memória declarativa e não-declarativa, atenção e funções executivas. Foram analisados também condições socioeconômicas, saúde mental materna e comportamento na escola. RESULTADOS: as crianças desnutridas crônicas tiveram pior desempenho do que as eutróficas no teste de vocabulário (p s < 0,05) e no teste de memória operacional vísuo-espacial (p = 0,01), mostraram-se mais ansiosas (p = 0,006), somente dois indivíduos tinham desnutrição pré-natal. As crianças desnutridas pregressas não mostraram prejuízos. Nas variáveis socioeconômicas não houve diferenças. CONCLUSÕES: a desnutrição crônica foi relacionada a prejuízo de linguagem expressiva, memória operacional vísuo-espacial e maior ansiedade. Não houve prejuízo de nível intelectual, funções executivas, memória de longo prazo e função vísuo-construtiva. A preservação da maioria das funções cognitivas pode ser atribuída à ausência de desnutrição intra-uterina, e/ou ao fato de que, as crianças vivem em adequado ambiente socio-econômico.

OBJECTIVES: to compare the neuropsychological profile of eutrophic, stunted and chronically malnourished children, and to analyse the role of socio-economic factors on the cognitive development. METHODS: seven to 10 year-old girls and boys from a poor community in São Paulo were evaluated: 27 eutrophyc, 31 stunted and 15 chronically malnourished. Neuropsychological evaluation involved cognitive functions not fully assessed in this population, such as working, declarative and non-declarative memories, attention and executive functions. Socio-economic indicators, maternal mental health and the children's behaviour at school were also evaluated. RESULTS: malnourished children had a lower score on the vocabulary test than the eutrophic and stunted groups (p s<0.05), performed worse in the visuospatial working memory task (p = 0.01), were more anxious than the stunted (p = 0.006), and despite having lower average birth weight than eutrophic children (p = 0.01), only two children as had prenatal malnutrition. Stunted children exhibited no impairment. No differences in socio-economic variables were found among groups. CONCLUSIONS: chronic malnutrition was associated to impairment of expressive speech, visual-spatial short-term memory and increased anxiety. No effects were observed in intellectual abilities, executive functions, verbal working memory, long-term memory, nor in visuoconstructive function. Preservation of the latter cognitive functions can be attributed to adequate environmental conditions and the lack of overall prenatal malnutrition.

O estudo da contribuição de diferentes subtipos de memória de longo-prazo, explícitas e implícitas, e a contribuição dessa em determinados testes é dificultado por três fatores principais: a) a definição ambígua desses subtipos de memória, "conscientemente" e "não conscientemente" evocáveis, respectivamente; b) as múltiplas características distintas de testes de avaliação de memória implícita e explícita, o que torna pouco reveladora a comparação de seus resultados; e c) o fato de que ambas estratégias de memória podem ser empregadas conjuntamente na realização de praticamente todo tipo de teste. O "Critério de Recordação Intencional" (Retrieval Intentionality Criterion; Schacter, Bowers e Booker, 1989) consiste num paradigma que propõe controlar esses fatores de modo que se possa distinguir a contribuição de memória explícita da implícita. No presente trabalho ilustra-se como empregar essa metodologia e interpretar os resultados advindos de sua aplicação usando o teste de complementação de conjuntos de três letras (stem-completion).

The study of the contribution of different subtypes of long-term memory, explicit and implicit, in the performance in certain tasks is constrained by three different factors: a) the ambiguous definition of these types of memory, "consciously" and "non-consciously" retrievable, respectively; b) the distinct features of tasks that assess implicit and explicit memory, rendering the direct comparison of results in these tasks little revealing; e c) the fact that both implicit and explicit strategies can be employed together in practically all types of tests. The "Retrieval Intentionality Criterion" (Schacter, Bowers, & Booker, 1989) consists of a paradigm that proposes to control these factors so that the use of explicit and implicit memory can be distinguished. The present work illustrates how this methodology can be employed and how to interpret results obtained applying a stem-completion task.

OBJETIVO: O presente artigo compara as normas obtidas no Brasil e nos EUA para o "International Affective Picture System" (IAPS), um conjunto de fotografias emocionais amplamente utilizado na investigação experimental. MÉTODOS: Os sujeitos foram 1.062 universitários brasileiros (364 homens e 698 mulheres) que avaliaram as 707 fotografias do IAPS nas dimensões prazer, alerta e dominância, utilizando o mesmo procedimento do estudo normativo original realizado nos EUA, permitindo uma comparação direta dos dados através de correlações lineares de Pearson e testes t de Student. RESULTADOS: Todas as correlações entre as populações foram altamente significativas, sendo o maior coeficiente o da dimensão prazer, seguido da dimensão dominância e alerta. Entretanto, os brasileiros atribuíram maiores valores médios à dimensão alerta do que os norte-americanos. CONCLUSÃO: Os resultados confirmam que esse conjunto de estímulos pode ser usado no Brasil como um instrumento de medidas afetivas em função das altas correlações encontradas entre as duas populações, apesar das diferenças encontradas na dimensão alerta, que serão discutidas em detalhe.

OBJECTIVE: The present article compares Brazilian and American norms for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), a set of normative emotional photographic slides for experimental investigations. METHODS: Subjects were 1,062 Brazilian university students (364 men and 698 women) who rated 707 pictures from the IAPS in terms of pleasure, arousal, and dominance following the methodology of the original normative study in the US, enabling direct comparison of data from the two samples through Pearson product moment correlation and Student t test. RESULTS: All correlations were highly significant with the highest level for the pleasure dimension, followed by dominance and arousal. However, contrary to the American normative values, our data showed that Brazilian subjects generally assigned higher arousal ratings overall. CONCLUSION: Our findings confirm that this set of stimuli can be used in Brazil as an affective rating tool due to the high correlations found across the two populations, despite differences on the arousal dimension, which are discussed in detail.

OBJETIVO: Este estudo comparou os resultados entre crianças brasileiras e americanas quanto àomeação, familiaridade com o conceito representado e complexidade visual de um conjunto de 400 figuras MÉTODO: Foram avaliadas 36 crianças brasileiras (18 meninos) de 5 a 7 anos de idade com características semelhantes às crianças americanas. Os procedimentos e medidas empregados no estudo brasileiro foram os mesmos usados para a população americana permitindo comparação direta dos dados das duas amostras através de correlações rho de Spearman e testes t de Student. RESULTADOS: Foram observadas correlações positivas significativas para todas as medidas entre as amostras brasileira e americana. A análise qualitativa demonstrou que ambos os grupos deram nomes modais que diferem do proposto para 59 figuras. As crianças brasileiras utilizaram nomes que diferem do proposto para 72 figuras nomeadas corretamente pelas americanas. As americanas nomearam diferentemente do nome modal 26 figuras nomeadas corretamente pelas brasileiras. CONCLUSÃO: O conjunto de 400 figuras mostrou-se um instrumento adequado para uso em diferentes culturas. Contudo, é aconselhável evitar o uso de figuras que produziram inconsistência de nomeação nas populações brasileira e norte-americana em estudos em outras culturas com o mesmo grupo etário até que normas específicas estejam disponíveis.

OBJECTIVE: This study compared Brazilian and North American children regarding naming, familiarity and visual complexity of a set of 400 pictures. METHOD: Thirty-six Brazilian children (18 boys) aged 5 to 7 were evaluated. Their characteristics and the study procedure and measures were the same as those employed for the North American population enabling direct comparison of data from the two samples through Spearman rho correlations and Student t tests. RESULTS: Positive significant correlations between overall results of Brazilian and North American children were observed for all measures. Qualitative analysis showed that both groups gave modal names that differed from the intended names for the same 59 pictures. The Brazilian children named 72 pictures differently from the intended names that were correctly named by the North American children, who named 26 pictures differently from the intended names that were correctly named by the Brazilians. CONCLUSION: The 400 picture set was shown to be an adequate tool for use in different cultures. However, it is advisable to avoid pictures that produced naming inconsistencies by the Brazilian and North American children in studies in other cultures with the same age group until specific norms are made available.

O presente artigo apresenta valores normativos brasileiros para o International Affective Picture System (IAPS), um conjunto de estímulos com potencial de eliciar emoções amplamente utilizado na investigação experimental. Também são apresentados aqui os resultados da comparação entre as respostas de homens e mulheres brasileiros. Um total de 1062 universitários brasileiros (364 homens e 698 mulheres) foram incluídos e avaliaram as 707 fotografias do IAPS nas dimensões prazer, alerta e dominância, utilizando o mesmo procedimento do estudo normativo original realizado por Lang et al. nos Estados Unidos, em 1999.

The present article provides Brazilian norms for the International Affective Picture System (IAPS), a set of affectively salient photographic slides widely used in experimental research. In addition, the article compares the responses of male and female volunteers to the system in Brazil. A total of 1062 Brazilian university students (364 men and 698 women) were included, and they rated 707 pictures from the IAPS in terms of valence, arousal, and dominance, following the methodology of the original normative study carried out by Lang et al. in the United States in 1999.

Este artículo presenta valores normativos brasileños para el International Affective System (IAPS), un conjunto de estímulos con potencial de poner al descubierto emociones, que es ampliamente utilizado en la investigación experimental. Además, se presentan los resultados de la comparación entre las respuestas de hombres y mujeres brasileños. Un total de 1062 universitarios brasileños (364 hombres y 698 mujeres) han sido incluidos y evaluaron las 707 diapositivas del IAPS en los niveles placer, alerta y dominancia, utilizando el mismo procedimiento del estudio normativo original realizado por Lang et al. en Estados Unidos, en 1999.

Snodgrass & Vanderwart (1980) padronizaram um conjunto de 260 figuras nos EUA para uso em pesquisas de processos cognitivos nas quais figuras de objetos são utilizadas como análogos laboratoriais de objetos propriamente ditos. Desde então normas similares foram obtidas no Reino Unido, Espanha, Japão e Islândia, e um conjunto de 400 figuras (incluindo as 260 originais: Cycowicz et al., 1997) foi estudado na França e no Brasil. O presente estudo traz uma comparação das normas obtidas no Brasil e internacionalmente. O padrão de correlações entre as padronizações brasileira e as demais foi equiparável ao previamente descrito: apesar das figuras serem julgadas como tendo familiaridade e complexidade visual similares (correlações positivas elevadas), a consistência de nomeação foi menos correlacionada, possivelmente devido a diferenças nos idiomas de cada pais pesquisado e/ou devido ao tamanho da amostra empregada em cada estudo. Os resultados confirmaram a adequação das normas brasileiras.

Snodgrass & Vanderwart (1980) standardized a set of 260 pictures in the USA for use in studies of cognitive processes that employ pictured objects as laboratory analogues of object themselves. Since then similar norms for this set were obtained in Britain, Spain, Japan and Iceland and a larger set of 400 pictures (including the original 260: Cycowicz et al., 1997) was studied in France and Brazil. The present article provides a comparison of the norms obtained in Brazil and internationally. The pattern of correlations among the Brazilian and other standardizations were equivalent to that previously observed: despite pictures being judged to be of similar familiarity and visual complexity (high positive correlations), name agreement was less correlated, possibly due to differences in the languages spoken in each country and/or in the sample size used in each study. Results confirm the adequacy of the Brazilian norms.

Testes de complementação de letras (em inglês ''stem-completion tests'') são amplamente utilizado na literatura internacional para avaliar memória. Não existem no Brasil, porém, trabalhos que propõem estímulos adequados para uso nesse tipo de teste. O objetivo do presente experimento foi selecionar conjuntos de três letras (tríades) que completam palavras em português do Brasil adequadas para maximizar a verificação de memória. Foram obtidos padrões de complementação ao acaso de 137 tríades que completam pelo menos 10 outras palavras comuns em nosso idioma e manipulados fatores que poderiam influenciar nas estimativas de memória usando essas tríades. Verificou-se que, dependendo da probabilidade de complementação das tríades com a palavra mais freqüentemente utilizada ao acaso, não é possível verificar efeitos de memória; ou seja, a taxa de complementação de estímulos familiares (previamente expostos) não é distinguível da linha de base. Foram propostas diretrizes para a seleção de tríades e estímulos adequados para maximizar a obtenção de índices de memória em testes indiretos de complementação.

Stem-completion tests are commonly used to assess memory. In Brazil, however, there are no publications that propose adequate stimuli for use in this type of task. Our objective was to select adequate word-stems to maximize memory assessment using this task in Brazil. We obtained chance-completion profiles of 137 word-stems that completed at least 10 common words in Portuguese from Brazil and manipulated factors that could influence memory estimates using these stems. We found that depending on the chance-completion of the most frequently used word to complete a stem it is not possible to show memory effects; that is, completion with familiar stimuli (seen before) is not distinguishable from baseline. Guidelines are proposed for the selection of adequate stems and stimuli to maximize the acquisition of memory estimates using indirect stem-completion tasks.