Brain lesion and memory functioning: short-term memory deficit is independent of lesion location.
We analyzed the effects of patterns of brain lesions from penetrating head injuries on memory performance in participants of the Vietnam Head Injury Study (Grafman et al., 1988). Classes of lesion patterns were determined by mixture modeling (L. K. Muthén & B. O. Muthén, 1998-2004). Memory performance was assessed for short-term memory (STM), semantic memory, verbal episodic memory, and visual episodic memory. The striking finding was that large STM deficits were observed in all classes of brain-injured individuals, regardless of lesion location pattern. These effects persist despite frequent concomitant effects of depressive symptomatology and substance dependence. Smaller deficits in semantic memory, verbal episodic memory, and visual episodic memory depended on lesion location, in a manner roughly consistent with the existing neuropsychological literature. The theoretical and clinical implications of the striking, seemingly permanent STM deficits in individuals with penetrating head injuries are discussed.
Intramural Research Program, National Institute of Mental Health, Bethesda, Maryland 20892-8408, USA. carmi.schooler@nih.gov
Carmi
C
Schooler
Leslie J
LJ
Caplan
Andrew J
AJ
Revell
Andres M
AM
Salazar
Jordan
J
Grafman
D000328:Adult; D001921:Brain / Q000503:physiopathology*; D001930:Brain Injuries / Q000503:physiopathology; D006801:Humans; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology*; D008570:Memory, Short-Term; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D012660:Semantics; D012720:Severity of Illness Index; D013997:Time Factors