Confabulation behavior and false memories in Korsakoff's syndrome: role of source memory and executive functioning.
OBJECTIVE
Confabulation behavior is common in patients with Korsakoff's syndrome. A distinction can be made between spontaneous and provoked confabulations, which may have different underlying cognitive mechanisms. Provoked confabulations may be related to intrusions on memory tests, whereas spontaneous confabulations may be due to executive dysfunction or a source memory deficit.


METHODS
In 19 chronic Korsakoff patients, spontaneous confabulations were quantified by third-party rating (Likert scale). Provoked confabulations were assessed using the Dalla Barba Confabulation Battery. Furthermore, assessment of executive function was performed using an extensive neuropsychological battery. False memories (i.e. intrusions) and source memory were measured using twoparallelversions of a word-list learning paradigm (a modification of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test).


RESULTS
There were deficits in source memory, in which patients incorrectly assigned previously learned words to an incorrect word list. Also, Korsakoff patients had extensive executive deficits, but no relationship between the severity of these deficits and the severity of confabulation or intrusions on a memory task was found.


CONCLUSIONS
The present findings provide evidence for a dissociation between spontaneous confabulation, provoked confabulation and false memories.
Kessels
Roy P C
RP
Nijmegen Institute for Cognition and Information, Radboud University Nijmegen, The Netherlands. r.kessels@ger.umcn.nl
Kortrijk
Hans E
HE
Wester
Arie J
AJ
Nys
Gudrun M S
GM
D000368:Aged; D001288:Attention; D003072:Cognition Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008192:Deception; D005201:Fantasy; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020915:Korsakoff Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000523:psychology*; D008297:Male; D011939:Mental Recall; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012094:Repression, Psychology