Reduplicative paramnesia: possible anatomical and neuropsychological mechanisms.

A patient is reported who presented with reduplicative paramnesia following a vascular lesion in the right frontal region. Neuropsychological examination revealed significant memory impairment, perservation on a problem solving task and marked left-sided inattention. Recovery from the paramnesic episode was accompanied by selective resolution of the original cognitive deficits. It is suggested that focal right frontal pathology may represent a sufficient condition for the occurrence of reduplicative paramnesia, and that the underlying mechanisms may be dependent on a particular combination and severity of memory, visuospatial and conceptual deficits.