Abstract
We studied long-term recovery process of memory disturbance in 11 patients with severe or moderate head injury. Their cognitive functions were assessed for more than one year after head injury. They were tested by forward digit span, digit learning, five words memory and recall of five words after five minutes. Their lesions were localized by CT and/or MRI. Seven cases complaining of memory disturbance obtained zero score for the recall of five words after five minutes. Their lesions were included 3 left temporal lobe and 4 diffuse extended lesions. Four cases who did not complain of memory disturbance obtained normal score for the same test. Verbal memory disturbance related to the left temporal lobe. We found the recovery of verbal memory disturbance in patients with posterior or lateral left temporal lobe cortex lesion, and no recovery in anterior or mesial left temporal lobe lesions extending from cortex to subcortex.
