title: Can we remember future actions yet forget the last two minutes? Study in transient global amnesia.
abstract: Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a clinical syndrome characterized by the abrupt onset of a massive episodic memory deficit that spares other cognitive functions. If the anterograde dimension is known to be impaired in TGA, researchers have yet to investigate prospective memory (PM)--which involves remembering to perform an intended action at some point in the future--in this syndrome. Furthermore, as executive functions are thought to be spared in this syndrome, TGA provides an opportunity to examine the impact of a massive "pure" memory impairment on PM. We assessed 38 patients with a newly designed protocol that distinguished between the prospective (remembering to do something at the appropriate time) and retrospective (remembering what has to be done) components of PM. Moreover, we investigated episodic memory with an anterograde memory task and assessed executive functions, anxiety and mood, as well as their links with PM. We demonstrated that PM is impaired during TGA, with a greater deficit for the retrospective component than for the prospective component. Furthermore, we highlighted a strong link between these two components. Anterograde episodic memory impairments were correlated with retrospective component deficits in TGA patients, although we were able to confirm that executive functions are globally spared. We discuss this pattern of results within the theoretical framework of PM, putting forward new arguments in favor of the idea that PM deficits can occur mainly because of a massive anterograde memory deficit. The clinical consequences of PM impairment in TGA are examined.
authors.affiliation: INSERM U923, EPHE, Université de Caen Basse-Normandie, Centre Hospitalier de Caen, Caen, France.
authors.forename: Mathieu
authors.initials: M
authors.lastname: Hainselin
authors.forename: Peggy
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Quinette
authors.forename: Béatrice
authors.initials: B
authors.lastname: Desgranges
authors.forename: Olivier
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Martinaud
authors.forename: Didier
authors.initials: D
authors.lastname: Hannequin
authors.forename: Vincent
authors.initials: V
authors.lastname: de La Sayette
authors.forename: Fausto
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Viader
authors.forename: Francis
authors.initials: F
authors.lastname: Eustache
mesh_terms: D000368:Aged; D020236:Amnesia, Transient Global / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D056344:Executive Function / Q000502:physiology; D005260:Female; D005544:Forecasting; D006801:Humans; D007223:Infant; D033182:Intention; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011446:Prospective Studies; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D012189:Retrospective Studies; D013997:Time Factors