Normal black adolescents were given neuropsychological tests of brain damage, and the interpretation of these tests was reviewed with respect to culturally relevant data. Subjects were 50 male and 50 female black students, aged 12-13, with no history of central nervous system trauma, and average scores on the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Revised (WISC-R). The Black Ideology Scale (BIS) was used to measure social, cultural, and ethnic identity according to Black Nationalist Ideology. The Symbol Digit Modalities Test (SDMT), Benton Revised Visual Retention Test (BVRT-R) and the Purdue Pegboard Test (PPT) were also administered. Using multivariate analysis of variance and multiple regression analysis, significant sex differences were found on SDMT and PPT results. An interaction was found between sex and ethnic identity on the SDMT. Interactions were also found between sex, age, and BIS scores on BVRT-R scores. WISC-R scores were predicted by PPT, BVRT-R, and BIS scores. There were problems with the previously published norms for the BVRT-R and the PPT. The SDMT gave the most accurate classifications for this sample. Some cultural characteristics affected responses to certain items. In conclusion, interpretation of neuropsychological test results with black adolescents would have more ecological validity if a culturally sensitive approach were used. (GDC)