Role of Perceptual and Organizational Factors in Amnesics' Recall of the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure: A Comparison of Three Amnesic Groups

Abstract

To examine the contribution of visual-perceptual and visual-organizational factors to visual memory in amnesia, Korsakoff, medial temporal, and anterior communicating artery (ACoA) aneurysm amnesics' copy, organization, and recall performance on the Rey-Osterrieth Complex Figure was assessed. Korsakoff patients were matched to medial temporal patients in terms of severity of amnesia, while the ACoA group, which was less severely amnesic, was matched to the Korsakoff patients on performance on executive tasks. Results indicated that while both the ACoA and Korsakoff groups had poorer copy accuracy and organization than controls, only the Korsakoff patients' copy accuracy was worse than the other two amnesic groups. While the Korsakoff patient's visuoperceptual deficits could partially explain this group's poor performance at immediate recall, the Korsakoff group's comparatively worse performance at delayed recall could not be accounted for by poor copy accuracy, reduced visual organization, or even the combined influence of these two factors.

Judgment and memory performance for emotional stimuli in patients with alcoholic Korsakoff syndrome

“…This result suggests that memory impairments do not depend on modality of the stimuli (verbal vs. pictorial). The conclusion that memory impairment for neutral material arises independently from stimulus modality within KS participants is supported by previous research findings (e.g., Brand et al, 2003a;Brand, Kalbe, Fujiwara, Huber, & Markowitsch, 2003b;Kessels, Postma, Wester, & de Haan, 2000;Kixmiller et al, 2000). Furthermore, results imply that memory impairments seem not to be emotion specific, meaning that they occur to the same degree for emotional and neutral material in KS patients.…”

“…;American Psychiatric Association, 1994) criteria, KS patients' most prominent symptoms are profound anterograde memory disturbances that impair everyday life and, in addition, moderate signs of retrograde amnesia. Memory impairments emerge in different modalities (see Heinrichs, 1994;Holdstock, Mayes, Cezayirli, Aggleton, & Roberts, 1999;Kixmiller, Verfaellie, Mather, & Cermak, 2000) and occur in free recall and in recognition conditions (Kessler, Irle, & Markowitsch, 1986;Kessler, Markowitsch, & Bast-Kessler, 1987;Markowitsch, Kessler, Bast-Kessler, & Riess, 1984;Markowitsch, Kessler, & Denzler, 1986). Remote memory disturbances include a reduced ability to recall autobiographicalepisodic events and semantic knowledge, such as famous events and names (Borsutzky, Fujiwara, & Markowitsch, 2006;Kopelman, Stanhope, & Kingsley, 1999;Mayes, Daum, Markowitsch, & Sauter, 1997).…”

Cognitive profile of patients with alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome

“…The anterograde memory disturbances are well described for both verbal and figural material (27)(28)(29), although earlier studies described more pronounced deficits in the verbal than in the figural modality (30). An example for figural memory deficits can be found in figure 1 showing performance in copying a complex figure (the Rey-Osterrieth figure (31)) almost perfectly.…”

Executive function modifies the relationship between occupational lead exposure and complex figure test performance

“…Performance on the ROCF also requires the use of executive functions, namely planning, and organisation for adequate encoding, storage and retrieval of the complex figure 6 7. The complexity of the test and the skills needed for successful performance increases the sensitivity of the test to detect impaired performance in various neurocognitive conditions8 including dementia,9–11 cerebrovascular disease,12 psychiatric conditions,13 ageing,14 15 epilepsy,16 and exposure to a variety of nervous system toxicants 17. It is the delayed recall or memory condition of the ROCF that is most sensitive to disruption and should be the focus when evaluating the effects of a toxic exposure 17…”