Selective sparing of face learning in a global amnesic patient

OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that visual memory for faces can be dissociated from visual memory for topographical material. METHOD A patient who developed a global amnesic syndrome after acute carbon monoxide poisoning is described. A neuroradiological examination documented severe bilateral atr...

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Bibliographic Details
Published in:Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry neurosurgery and psychiatry, 2001-09, Vol.71 (3), p.340-346
Main Authors: Carlesimo, G A, Fadda, L, Turriziani, P, Tomaiuolo, F, Caltagirone, C
Format: Article
Language:English
Subjects:
Acute Disease
Adaptation (Physiology)
Amnesia
Amnesia - chemically induced
Amnesia - diagnosis
Amnesia - physiopathology
Amnesia - psychology
Atrophy
Biological and medical sciences
Carbon monoxide poisoning
Carbon Monoxide Poisoning - complications
Case-Control Studies
Chemical and industrial products toxicology. Toxic occupational diseases
Cognitive learning
Contrast sensitivity (Vision)
Evaluation
face learning
Gas, fumes
Hippocampus - pathology
Humans
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Medical sciences
Middle Aged
Neural circuitry
Neurologic Examination
Neuropsychological Tests
Neuropsychology
Patients
Physiological aspects
Prosopagnosia - chemically induced
Prosopagnosia - diagnosis
Prosopagnosia - physiopathology
Prosopagnosia - psychology
Severity of Illness Index
Toxicology
Trauma
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Summary:OBJECTIVE To test the hypothesis that visual memory for faces can be dissociated from visual memory for topographical material. METHOD A patient who developed a global amnesic syndrome after acute carbon monoxide poisoning is described. A neuroradiological examination documented severe bilateral atrophy of the hippocampi. RESULTS Despite a severe anterograde memory disorder involving verbal information, abstract figures, concrete objects, topographical scenes, and spatial information, the patient was still able to learn previously unknown human faces at a normal (and, in some cases, at a higher) rate. CONCLUSIONS Together with previous neuropsychological evidence documenting selective sparing of topographical learning in otherwise amnesic patients, this case is indicative of the fact that the neural circuits involved in face recognition are distinct from those involved in the recognition of other visuoperceptual material (for example, topographical scenes).
ISSN:0022-3050
1468-330X
DOI:10.1136/jnnp.71.3.340