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Abstract:
Goals: Patients with retrograde amnesia display various
memory deficits in tests of autobiographical memory, memory for
public events or people, and semantic knowledge. The aim of our
study was to investigate the heterogeneity of retrieval profiles on
the basis of neuropsychological and neurological data. Methods: In
our study 12 patients with retrograde amnesia and 12 healthy
controls were given a comprehensive neuropsychological test battery
and two instruments for assessing autobiographical episodic and
semantic memory. Results: Patients can be divided based on their
profiles in autobiographical memory. One group showed the typical
patterns of time-related gradual loss of remote memories (first in,
last out). In contrast the other group did not show significant
deficits in recalling general events, neither of recent nor of
distant episodes and facts, but a severe loss in remembering
detailed, emotional, and vivid episodes from their whole life-span.
Referring to recent models of memory the results are discussed with
respect to various neuropsychological functions, brain lesions,
coma duration and postincidental assessment delay. Conclusion: We
conclude that there is no specific profile of autobiographical and
semantic memory loss in patients with retrograde amnesia. The
results suggest that the idea of gradual consolidation, poor
retrieval of recent autobiographical memories and better preserved
distant memories does not explain the heterogeneity of recall
profiles. Instead our results support more differentiated and
representation-dependent models of autobiographical memory.
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