Jazz, guitar, and neurosurgery: the Pat Martino case report.
OBJECTIVE
We present the case of a professional jazz guitarist with temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to an arteriovenous cerebral malformation.


METHODS
The patient underwent a left temporal lobectomy in 1980. After surgery, he presented with severe retrograde amnesia and complete loss of musical interest and capabilities. The patient's musical abilities recovered over time, and he regained his previous virtuoso status. In 2007, his medical history, neuropsychologic functions, and structural magnetic resonance imaging study were examined and revealed a remarkable degree of recovery of memory and musical abilities in the context of extensive temporal lobe resection. The neuropsychologic findings and neuroanatomic features of the magnetic resonance imaging study were analyzed to try to understand the high degree of recovery of both long-term memory and musical processing abilities in this musician.


CONCLUSIONS
This case reveals the possibility of an unusual degree of cerebral plasticity and reorganization. Additionally, it emphasizes the question of musical virtuosity. This report shows that the musical capabilities of professional musicians, in specific cases, can completely recover even when much of the left temporal lobe has been removed.
Regional Department of Neurosurgery, "Virgen de la Arrixaca" University Hospital, Murcia, Spain. Electronic address: marcelo.galarza@carm.es.
Marcelo
M
Galarza
Department of Psychology and Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Claire
C
Isaac
Department of Health Psychology, University Miguel Hernández, Elche, Spain.
Olga
O
Pellicer
Department of Psychology and Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Andrew
A
Mayes
Department of Psychology and Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Paul
P
Broks
Department of Psychology and Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Daniela
D
Montaldi
Department of Psychology and Radiology, University of Sheffield, Sheffield, United Kingdom.
Christine
C
Denby
Department of Neurosurgery, Jefferson University, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, USA.
Frederick
F
Simeone
D000328:Adult; D000647:Amnesia / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D017029:Epilepsy, Complex Partial / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006261:Headache / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D006801:Humans; D002538:Intracranial Arteriovenous Malformations / Q000150:complications / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery*; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D009146:Music; D019635:Neurosurgical Procedures; D020127:Recovery of Function; D013702:Temporal Lobe / Q000473:pathology / Q000601:surgery
Amnesia; Amygdala; Auditory-motor interrelations; Brain; Brain plasticity; Cerebral arteriovenous malformation; Epilepsy; Hippocampus; Memory; Music; Neurologic deficit; Neuropsychologic assessment; Neuroscience; Temporal lobe