The performance of postencephalitic amnesic subjects on two behavioural tests of memory: concurrent discrimination learning and delayed matching-to-sample.
The performance of a group of three postencephalitic subjects with anterograde amnesia was examined on a series of concurrent visual discrimination problems and on a test of visual recognition, delayed matching-to-sample. These tests were chosen as they have been used to assess experimental models of anterograde amnesia in nonhuman primates. In comparison with a group of normal subjects the postencephalitic group were impaired on the more difficult concurrent discrimination problems. They also performed poorly on the matching-to-sample task when given lists of items to remember or given increased retention intervals. The pattern of performance of the postencephalitic group matched closely that of a group of Korsakoff subjects, indicating that these behavioural tests are equally sensitive to different types of anterograde amnesia.
Aggleton
J P
JP
Department of Psychology, University of Durham.
Shaw
C
C
Gaffan
E A
EA
D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D001288:Attention / Q000502:physiology*; D001925:Brain Damage, Chronic / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D004193:Discrimination Learning / Q000502:physiology*; D004660:Encephalitis / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D006801:Humans; D008032:Limbic System / Q000503:physiopathology; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010364:Pattern Recognition, Visual / Q000502:physiology*; D012153:Retention, Psychology / Q000502:physiology