Spatial and nonspatial implicit motor learning in Korsakoff’s amnesia: evidence for selective deficits

• Published in: Experimental brain research 2011-10, Vol.214 (3), p.427-435
• Main Authors: Van Tilborg, Ilse A. D. A., Kessels, Roy P. C., Kruijt, Pauline, Wester, Arie J., Hulstijn, Wouter
• Format: Article
• Language: English
• Subjects: Adult; Amnesia; Biological and medical sciences; Biomedical and Life Sciences; Biomedicine; Brain research; Clinical psychology; Explicit memory; Female; Fundamental and applied biological sciences. Psychology; Humans; Implicit memory; Korsakoff syndrome; Korsakoff Syndrome - diagnosis; Korsakoff Syndrome - physiopathology; Korsakoff Syndrome - psychology; Learning Disabilities - diagnosis; Learning Disabilities - physiopathology; Learning Disabilities - psychology; Male; Medical sciences; Memory; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - physiopathology; Memory Disorders - psychology; Middle Aged; Motor control and motor pathways. Reflexes. Control centers of vegetative functions. Vestibular system and equilibration; Motor learning; Movement Disorders - diagnosis; Movement Disorders - physiopathology; Movement Disorders - psychology; Nervous system (semeiology, syndromes); Nervous system as a whole; Neurology; Neuropsychological Tests - standards; Neurosciences; Psychological aspects; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Random Allocation; Research Article; Vertebrates: nervous system and sense organs
• ISSN: 0014-4819; 1432-1106
• DOI: 10.1007/s00221-011-2841-6

Patients with amnesia have deficits in declarative memory but intact memory for motor and perceptual skills, which suggests that explicit memory and implicit memory are distinct. However, the evidence that implicit motor learning is intact in amnesic patients is contradictory. This study investigated implicit sequence learning in amnesic patients with Korsakoff’s syndrome ( N  = 20) and matched controls ( N  = 14), using the classical Serial Reaction Time Task and a newly developed Pattern Learning Task in which the planning and execution of the responses are more spatially demanding. Results showed that implicit motor learning occurred in both groups of participants; however, on the Pattern Learning Task, the percentage of errors did not increase in the Korsakoff group in the random test phase, which is indicative of less implicit learning. Thus, our findings show that the performance of patients with Korsakoff’s syndrome is compromised on an implicit learning task with a strong spatial response component.