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Abstract:
Abstract: Organic amnesics have been observed to perform
equivalently to normal controls on indirect memory tasks involving
both familiar and novel information, implying that they are able to
encode and store new information in the perceptual representation
system (as proposed by Schacter & Tulving, 1994) that is
available to implicit memory. Studies involving item-specific
indirect memory tests for novel abstract patterns have produced
evidence that amnesics have normal implicit memory for such
perceptual information (Gabrieli et al, 1990; Verfaelli et al,
1992; Gooding et al, 1993). These studies involved a pattern
completion paradigm, where implicit memory was measured by the
increased probability that dot templates were completed with
previously studied patterns. However, methodological problems have
been identified and an improved technique has been devised. We
presented the improved paradigm to a pilot control group, and then
presented it to ten amnesic patients and their matched controls.
The patient group performed at chance level and were found to be
impaired when compared to normal control subjects. This is
consistent with the findings and predictions of Gooding et al (In
Prep.) and the present study proposes that this indirect memory
task invites the use of explicit memory processes in subjects to
whom it is available. Present addresses; * Birkbeck College,
University of London. Strathclyde University, Glasgow,
Scotland.
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