Differences in visual vs. verbal memory impairments as a result of focal temporal lobe damage in patients with traumatic brain injury.
OBJECTIVE
The aim of the present study was to determine whether the type of lesion in a sample of moderate and severe traumatic brain injury (TBI) was related to material-specific memory impairment.


METHODS
Fifty-nine patients with TBI were classified into three groups according to whether the site of the lesion was right temporal, left temporal or diffuse. Six-months post-injury, visual (Warrington's Facial Recognition Memory Test and Rey's Complex Figure Test) and verbal (Rey's Auditory Verbal Learning Test) memories were assessed.


RESULTS
Visual memory deficits assessed by facial memory were associated with right temporal lobe lesion, whereas verbal memory performance assessed with a list of words was related to left temporal lobe lesion. The group with diffuse injury showed both verbal and visual memory impairment.


CONCLUSIONS
These results suggest a material-specific memory impairment in moderate and severe TBI after focal temporal lesions and a non-specific memory impairment after diffuse damage.
Ariza
Mar
M
Department of Psychiatry and Clinical Psychobiology, University of Barcelona, and Department of Neurosurgery, Vall d'Hebron University Hospital, Neurotraumatology Research Unit, Spain.
Pueyo
Roser
R
Junqué
Carme
C
Mataró
María
M
Poca
María Antonia
MA
Mena
Maria Pau
MP
Sahuquillo
Juan
J
D000293:Adolescent; D000328:Adult; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology*; D001931:Brain Mapping / Q000379:methods; D004292:Dominance, Cerebral; D005145:Face; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000209:etiology* / Q000473:pathology / Q000523:psychology; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D021641:Recognition, Psychology; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000293:injuries*; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D014706:Verbal Learning