Selective sparing of face learning in a global amnesic patient

• Published in: Journal of neurology, neurosurgery and psychiatry Vol. 71; no. 3; pp. 340 - 346
• Main Authors: Carlesimo, G A, Fadda, L, Turriziani, P, Tomaiuolo, F, Caltagirone, C
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: London BMJ Publishing Group Ltd 01.09.2001; BMJ; BMJ Publishing Group LTD; BMJ Group
• Subjects: Acute Disease; 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; face learning; Gas, fumes; Hippocampus - pathology; Humans; Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Male; Medical sciences; Middle Aged; Neurologic Examination; Neuropsychological Tests; Neuropsychology; Patients; Prosopagnosia - chemically induced; Prosopagnosia - diagnosis; Prosopagnosia - physiopathology; Prosopagnosia - psychology; Severity of Illness Index; Toxicology; Trauma; Human; Memory disorder; Cartography; Nervous system diseases; Global amnesia; Visual memory; Male; Psychometrics; Cognition; Nuclear magnetic resonance imaging; Cerebral disorder; Learning; Case study; Central nervous system disease; Medical imagery; Adult; Complication; Poisoning; Carbon monoxide; Neurological disorder; Face
• ISSN: 0022-3050; 1468-330X
• DOI: 10.1136/jnnp.71.3.340

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).