Patterns of impaired verbal, spatial, and object working memory after thalamic lesions.
Working memory processes in six individuals with isolated thalamic lesions were assessed. Participants were given a verbal, spatial, and object n-back task, each at three levels of task load (1-back, 2-back, and 3-back). Relative to a control group, the patients were impaired on the verbal and spatial n-back tasks, and possibly on the object n-back task as well. None of the patients showed impaired short-term memory as measured by digit span. Group differences on trials measuring matching, sequencing, and inhibitory abilities were consistent with other reports suggesting that thalamic lesions may impair the operation of executive processes.
Kubat-Silman
Alycia K
AK
Psychology, Wake Forest University, University of North Carolina at Greensboro, Greensboro 27403-26164, USA. akkubat@uncg.edu
Dagenbach
Dale
D
Absher
John R
JR
D000368:Aged; D000369:Aged, 80 and over; D001037:Aphasia / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D002544:Cerebral Infarction / Q000150:complications* / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology*; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D010468:Perceptual Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000209:etiology*; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013028:Space Perception / Q000502:physiology*; D013788:Thalamus / Q000473:pathology / Q000503:physiopathology*