Ecological validity of list-learning tests and self-reported memory in healthy individuals and those with temporal lobe epilepsy.
We evaluated in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and healthy volunteers whether list-learning tests of episodic verbal/figural memory and subjective self-reports reliably indicate "Memory in Reality" (MIR). MIR was assessed by the incidental memory of the neuropsychological test event one week after testing. Subjective Memory was assessed by a questionnaire (SMQ). Patients achieved poorer results than controls in all measures of memory. Correlation and multiple regression analysis indicates that list-learning is highly predictive regarding performance in MIR. MIR predominantly relied on verbal memory in patients and on visual/figural memory in controls. Subjective memory differentiated patients and controls but it correlated to MIR only in subjects with unimpaired memory. In conclusion, the data indicate a high ecological validity of list-learning paradigms and they seriously question the diagnostic value of self-reported memory. They also indicate that incidentally acquired knowledge might be differentially represented in patients with a memory disorder and healthy persons.
Helmstaedter
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University Hospital of Epileptology, Bonn, Germany. psych.mailer@meb.uni-bonn.de
Hauff
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Elger
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D000328:Adult; D003463:Cues; D004777:Environment; D004833:Epilepsy, Temporal Lobe / Q000523:psychology*; D005163:Factor Analysis, Statistical; D005260:Female; D005556:Form Perception / Q000502:physiology; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D011939:Mental Recall; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology*