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PubMed2005

What happens to semantic memory when formal thought disorder remits? Revisiting a case study.

INTRODUCTION: Laws, Kondel, and McKenna (1999) previously reported a case study analysis of a schizophrenic patient (TC) with severe formal thought disorder (FTD). Examining consistency across item and modality of input, Laws et al. documented an impairment of access to semantic knowledge in TC. METHOD: Following substantial improvement in his FTD, we readministered the same extensive battery of neuropsychological tests tapping semantic memory functioning. RESULTS: Whilst TC's naming remained relatively good, it also became more consistent across both time and modality. Tasks tapping language comprehension and understanding of semantic association revealed some significant improvements. Nevertheless, TC showed a residual propensity to verify false information. CONCLUSION: Improvement in FTD in schizophrenia was accompanied by a better and more stable semantic memory performance in TC. The findings are consistent with, and expand upon the original suggestion that thought disorder reflects disorganised access to semantic memory.

Journal Article↗

PubMed1976

[Hyperbaric oxygen therapy in the clinical treatment of mental disorders accompanying severe cranio-cerebral trauma].

The author examined 20 patients with severe brain damage. Under the influence of hyperbaric oxygen therapy there was a more rapid restitution of consciousness and a relatively short development of soporous and comatose conditions. Disoders of the Korsakoff syndrome type in such conditions had an abortive development as well (4--7 days). In cases of developing delirious states the use of hyperbaric oxygen therapy demonstrated a clearing of consciousness and a disappearance of psychotic disturbances, already following the first session.

Alcohol Amnestic Disorder↗

PubMed2001

Working memory in posttraumatic stress disorder--an event-related potential study.

This study examined ERP topography during the updating and the utilization of working memory in subjects with PTSD. Event-related potentials of 18 participants with PTSD and 18 controls were recorded from 32 scalp electrodes during an auditory target detection task requiring the constant updating of target identity. Midline N2 and P3 abnormalities previously noted in PTSD during target detection were replicated. Scalp topographic data revealed sustained reduction in activity over the right hemisphere during working memory updating. Executive processes were associated with brief but widespread right hemisphere reductions during the P3, followed by sustained, bilateral reduction frontally. This study identifies an abnormal pattern of cortical network function during both the updating and use of working memory in PTSD.

Adult↗

PubMed1997

The Kluver-Bucy syndrome.

Evolution of psychological disorders following head injury including memory and other cognitive disorders are common. The best known are psychiatric disturbances of various kinds after lesions of the frontal lobes. Cognitive, behavioural and emotional disorders are not usually seen in patients with bilateral temporal lesions. In our Department of Neurotraumatology we have observed 4 patients with posttraumatic lesions localized bitemporally. They developed Kluver-Bucy syndrome-rarity in human pathology-combined with three or more of the following symptoms and signs: increased oral activity, hypersexuality, hypermetamorphosis, memory disorders, placidity, loss of people recognition, bulimia. Several symptoms responded dramatically to carbamazepine. We conclude that it may be a useful agent in the treatment of this unusual syndrome.

Adult↗

PubMed1998

Memory impairment and schizophrenia: the role of processing speed.

A link between slowing of processing speed and cognitive disorders, including memory, has repeatedly been found in research on aging, and suggested in other cognitively impaired populations. We tested the hypothesis that a link between memory impairment and slowing of processing speed would also be observed in schizophrenia. Forty-four schizophrenic patients and 40 normal controls were administered a memory task involving free recall and recognition. Processing speed was assessed by the Digit Symbol Substitution Test. Working memory span was assessed as well. The measure of processing speed was consistently correlated with the various memory measures in patients, including efficiency of encoding. These correlations remained significant, or tended to be significant, when working memory span was partialled out. Memory deficits observed in schizophrenia may thus be partly accounted for by a slowing of processing speed. It is suggested that research on cognitive deficits in this and other mental diseases focus more on processing speed.

Adult↗

PubMed2004

Normal pressure hydrocephalus manifesting as transient prosopagnosia, topographical disorientation, and visual objective agnosia.

Usually, dementia, gait disturbance and urinary incontinence are an integral part of the clinical presentation of normal pressure hydrocephalus (NPH). However, NPH with transient visual cognitive disorders has not been reported previously. We herein describe an extremely rare case of NPH that presented with transient visual cognitive disorders and long lasting visual memory disturbances that subsided after CSF shunting. A 38-years-old man developed transient prosopagnosia, topographical disorientation, color vision disturbance, and visual objective agnosia that progressed over 5 years. Magnetic resonance images showed ventriculomegaly with ischemic lesions in the paraventricular deep white matter. ECD-SPECT showed a reduction of the cerebral blood flow (CBF) in the periventricular deep white matter. Three months after CSF shunting, the radiological findings normalized with dramatic improvement of the extremely rare symptoms.

Adult↗

PubMed2000

Characteristics of memory dysfunction in body dysmorphic disorder.

Although body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) is receiving increasing empirical attention, very little is known about neuropsychological deficits in this disorder. The current study investigated the nature of memory dysfunction in BDD, including the relationship between encoding strategies and verbal and nonverbal memory performance. We evaluated 17 patients with BDD and 17 healthy controls using the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure Test (RCFT) and the California Verbal Learning Test (CVLT). BDD patients differed significantly from healthy controls on verbal and nonverbal learning and memory indices. Multiple regression analyses revealed that group differences in free recall were statistically mediated by deficits in organizational strategies in the BDD cohort. These findings are similar to patterns previously observed in obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), suggesting a potential relationship between OCD and BDD. Studies in both groups have shown that verbal and nonverbal memory deficits are affected by impaired strategic processing.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Health and neuropsychological functioning of dentists exposed to mercury.

OBJECTIVES: A cross sectional survey of dentists in the west of Scotland and unmatched controls was conducted to find the effect of chronic exposure to mercury on health and cognitive functioning. METHODS: 180 dentists were asked to complete a questionnaire that included items on handling of amalgam, symptoms experienced, possible influences on psychomotor function, and the 12 item general health questionnaire. Dentists were asked to complete a dental chart of their own mouths and to give samples of urine, hair, and nails for mercury analysis. Environmental measurements of mercury in dentists' surgeries were made and participants undertook a package of computerised psychomotor tests. 180 control subjects underwent a similar procedure, completing a questionnaire, having their amalgam surfaces counted, giving urine, hair, and nail samples and undergoing the psychomotor test package. RESULTS: Dentists had, on average, urinary mercury concentrations over four times that of control subjects, but all but one dentist had urinary mercury below the Health and Safety Executive health guidance value. Dentists were significantly more likely than control subjects to have had disorders of the kidney and memory disturbance. These symptoms were not significantly associated with urinary mercury concentration. Differences were found between the psychomotor performance of dentists and controls after adjusting for age and sex, but there was no significant association between changes in psychomotor response and mercury concentrations in urine, hair, or nails. CONCLUSIONS: Several differences in health and cognitive functioning between dentists and controls were found. These differences could not be directly attributed to their exposure to mercury. However, as similar health effects are known to be associated with mercury exposure, it would be appropriate to consider a system of health surveillance of dental staff with particular emphasis on symptoms associated with mercury toxicity where there is evidence of high levels of exposure to environmental mercury.

Adult↗

PubMed2002

Electroconvulsive therapy and newer modalities for the treatment of medication-refractory mental illness.

Severe mental illnesses often remain chronic and refractory to medication, leading to substantial morbidity and mortality. For more than 60 years, electroconvulsive therapy has been the only nonpharmacological psychiatric procedure available to treat severe or medication-refractory major depressive disorder and other psychiatric conditions. Memory dysfunction remains the most serious adverse effect, and current research focuses on attempts to ameliorate this complication. Transcranial magnetic stimulation and vagus nerve stimulation, 2 new neuropsychiatric technologies, are emerging as possible additions to our therapeutic armamentarium. Besides providing therapeutic benefits, these 3 methods may help elucidate the pathophysiology of psychiatric illness.

Drug Resistance↗

PubMed1999

[Recent data from the literature on the biological and pathologic effects of electromagnetic radiation, radio waves and stray currents].

Electromagnetic radiation is present in increasing amounts in our environment, and its potential effects on human (and animal) health has been investigated. It remains unclear whether the risk of acute childhood leukemia is associated with cumulative exposure to magnetic fields. An association with brain cancer and colon cancer has been suggested in electrical company workers. The radars used by police departments may increase the incidence of cancer. Electromagnetic radiation may play a role in a number of disorders such as depression and memory loss. It has been established that cell phones interfere with pacemakers only if direct contact occurs and have no effect if held in their normal position. Interferences have been reported between pacemakers and shop-lifting detectors.

Adult↗

PubMed1992

Memory and attention in newly diagnosed epileptic seizure disorder.

Interictal disturbances of memory and attention were evaluated in 74 adults with newly-diagnosed untreated epileptic seizures and no other known brain pathology. In approximately 30% of the patients with cryptogenic seizures, the average memory and attention scores indicated subtle dysfunction compared with normal control group. The patients had difficulties in tasks requiring memory, sustained attention and flexible mental processing, whereas they had normal attention span, simple speed of tracking and simple psychomotor speed. The memory difficulties may be related to attentional dysfunction leading to impaired or slowed initial encoding of memory trace, and also to a deficit in storing process and hippocampal dysfunction. These findings could have important implications for establishing criteria for identifying patients who develop chronic epilepsy and who thereby would benefit from early therapeutic intervention.

Adolescent↗

PubMed1996

Episodic memory deficit in elderly adults with suspected delusional disorder.

This study examined memory functions in two groups of elderly adults with and without suspected delusional disorder (SDD). The samples consisted of 66 normal elderly subjects and 33 elderly subjects with symptoms, as reported by close informants, of delusional disorder. Subjects were matched with regard to age, gender and education, and there were no differences between the two groups with regard to performance of visuo-spatial and primary memory tasks. Subjects were examined concerning a variety of episodic recall and recognition tasks. The results demonstrated that subjects with SDD performed at a lower level than controls for some episodic memory tasks (i.e. recall tasks). There were no group differences in measures of episodic recognition or in the primary memory tasks. In addition, the group of subjects with SDD was, to the same extent as the control group, able to utilize cognitive support in the form of organization, cues and previous knowledge in order to enhance episodic memory. In summary, it appears that elderly adults with SDD have a mild episodic memory deficit in the absence of other cognitive deficits.

Aged↗

PubMed2002

Memory mechanisms in posttraumatic stress disorder.

The authors present a new theory of the neurobiological mechanisms mediating the memory processes involved in posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). The current fear-conditioning model accounts for learning that underlies certain central features of PTSD, but it fails to account for peritraumatic memory disturbances, episodic memory phenomena that also are characteristic of the disorder. A more comprehensive model of PTSD, consistent with the clinical phenomenology of the disorder, is proposed on the basis of observations from human memory experiments. It is argued that the amygdala is the locus of consolidation of the core of the traumatic experience and that amygdalar inhibition of hippocampal function at high levels of emotional arousal mediates diminution of conscious memory for peritraumatic events. The model is amenable to specific experimental manipulations that should yield information pertinent to further development of theory and, ultimately, to more rational clinical intervention.

Animals↗

PubMed2005

Is it Alzheimer's disease or something else? 10 disorders that may feature impaired memory and cognition.

Patients who have the classic combination of progressive memory loss and problems retrieving stored knowledge that is characteristic of Alzheimer's disease may actually have another, treatable disorder. In these cases, appropriate evaluation can reveal the true diagnosis and guide therapy to stabilize or improve thinking and avert other complications. In this article, Dr Barrett explores 10 conditions that may be mistaken for Alzheimer's disease.

Aged↗

PubMed2003

[Memory consolidation and posttraumatic stress disorder].

Extensive evidence from animal and human studies has shown that memory formation is enhanced by an endogenous modulatory system mediated by stress hormones and activation of the amygdala. This system is an evolutionarily adaptive method of enhancing important memories. Under emotional stress, this system is activated promoting the formation of vivid, long lasting traumatic memories, which are the hallmark of PTSD. The understanding of the mechanisms underlying memory modulation might lead to an improved ability to assess and treat PTSD.

Emotions↗

PubMed2004

[Trends of mental and somatic diseases during therapy of endemic goiter].

The trend of mental and somatic diseases was studied in 70 patients with epidemic goiter (EG) treated with L-thyroxine or iodides during 1-5-year follow-up. Borderline mental disorders (diminished memory and attention, emotional and intellectual disorders) were found to be stable in these patients. The most delicate functions of the brain, such as the capacity for analysis and synthesis, are particularly vulnerable. Irrespective of the age of a patient, his/her educational level, occupation, the size of goiter, concrete rather than abstract logic thinking are prevalent in patients with EG. Drug treatment of EG only improves the patients' health status, but fails to eliminate evolving mental disorders even if the sizes of the thyroid can be brought to the normal values, the use of L-thyroxine is more effective that that of iodides.

Adaptation, Psychological↗

PubMed1999

Event-related potential index of semantic mnemonic dysfunction in abstinent alcoholics.

BACKGROUND: The objective of the study was to expand the investigation of the match/mismatch mnemonic impairment in the semantic domain in sober alcoholics. METHODS: Event-related potentials (ERPs) were recorded from 28 healthy adults and 36 sober alcoholics in a category (either animals or fruits/vegetables) match/nonmatch S1-S2 paradigm. RESULTS: There was a significant interaction of ERP amplitude (c3) between groups (controls vs. alcoholics) and stimulus conditions (category match vs. nonmatch) at the posterior brain regions; the c3 component was smaller for the category match than for nonmatch trials in controls, with the absence of such c3 differences in alcoholics. There were no significant ERP differences between the two groups in processing the sample stimuli. The ERPs c2) elicited by the animal category were larger than those for the vegetable category in both groups. The alcoholics showed prominent suppressed activation of left temporooccipital brain regions under both matching and nonmatching conditions, as demonstrated by the current source density maps. The alcoholics were also slower and less accurate than the controls in judging both category matching and nonmatching stimuli, while neither of the two groups demonstrated shorter response times to the matching stimuli. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that alcoholics are less efficient in the semantic mnemonic match/nonmatch process, and are less likely to be deteriorated in the stage of forming the template for such match/nonmatch comparisons.

Adult↗

PubMed1989

[Disorders of learning and memory in focal cerebral tissue lesions].

Memory and learning in man depend on complex cognitive systems, and thus on efficient associative information stores in different neocortical areas of our brain. In addition, phylogenetically older, "limbic" brain structures are needed, in order to manage these huge accociative stores in our telencephalon. This "operating system" manages memory and learning capabilities considering the "milieu interne", and especially biological and individual priorities. Our contribution attempts to sketch the anatomical outlines of this limbic operating system. Two interdependent neuronal networks may be of pivotal importance: 1. a medial limbic loop with Papez circuit as the main structure, and 2. a basolateral limbic loop including the amygdala, the subcallosal area (and the septum verum?) as well as the mediodorsal thalamic nucleus. Based on the anatomical evidence of (largely) selective, i.e. focal brain lesions the likelihood for all these relay stations as memory-related structures is discussed. Our working hypothesis assumes that combined, bilateral lesions of both limbic neuronal networks make severe, global and lasting deficits in memory and learning performance fairly likely. The lesion of only one of these limbic loops seems to cause modality-specific deficits. Unilateral lesions of the retrocommissural hippocampal formation may also account for lasting amnesia.

Brain Damage, Chronic↗