title: Spatial and nonspatial implicit motor learning in Korsakoff's amnesia: evidence for selective deficits.
abstract: Patients with amnesia have deficits in declarative memory but intact memory for motor and perceptual skills, which suggests that explicit memory and implicit memory are distinct. However, the evidence that implicit motor learning is intact in amnesic patients is contradictory. This study investigated implicit sequence learning in amnesic patients with Korsakoff's syndrome (N = 20) and matched controls (N = 14), using the classical Serial Reaction Time Task and a newly developed Pattern Learning Task in which the planning and execution of the responses are more spatially demanding. Results showed that implicit motor learning occurred in both groups of participants; however, on the Pattern Learning Task, the percentage of errors did not increase in the Korsakoff group in the random test phase, which is indicative of less implicit learning. Thus, our findings show that the performance of patients with Korsakoff's syndrome is compromised on an implicit learning task with a strong spatial response component.
authors.affiliation: Department of Medical Psychology, ZGT Hospital, PO Box 7600, 7600 SZ Almelo, The Netherlands. i.vtilborg@zgt.nl
authors.forename: Ilse A D A
authors.initials: IA
authors.lastname: Van Tilborg
authors.forename: Roy P C
authors.initials: RP
authors.lastname: Kessels
authors.forename: Pauline
authors.initials: P
authors.lastname: Kruijt
authors.forename: Arie J
authors.initials: AJ
authors.lastname: Wester
authors.forename: Wouter
authors.initials: W
authors.lastname: Hulstijn
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D020915:Korsakoff Syndrome / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D007859:Learning Disabilities / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008297:Male; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D008875:Middle Aged; D009069:Movement Disorders / Q000175:diagnosis / Q000503:physiopathology* / Q000523:psychology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests / Q000592:standards; D011597:Psychomotor Performance / Q000502:physiology*; D011897:Random Allocation