Key points are not available for this paper at this time.
MUCH has been written about the testing of patients with memory defects. In a subject as inherently difficult as this, the matter is further confounded not only by a variety of testing methods but by the inability of the examiner to learn easily the precise extent and localization of the related lesion. Clinically, difficulties with memory are well documented with lesions about the third ventricle including Korsakoffs psychosis (Orthner, 1957; Collins et al, 1961; Adams et al., 1962) and neoplastic disease (see Discussion). Memory difficulties (perhaps confounded with confusion) have been sporadically reported following lesions elsewhere, such as dorsomedial thalamotomies (Spiegel et al., 1955) and bilateral cingulotomies (Whitty and Lewin, 1960). Despite the fact that removals of the lateral cerebral cortex produce a variety of other intellectual difficulties, there seems little evidence that these are primarily related to the ability to retain the memory of recent events (Penfield and Evans, 1935; Hebb and Penfield, 1940; Stepien and Sierpinski, 1960; Corkin, 1965; and Milner, 1965). On the other hand, many have related loss in the medial temporal regions with memory defects. This trend in functional localization has progressed to the acceptance of the hippo-campus itself as the structure essential to memory function, which may be unwarranted. The present study was prompted by the availability of the hemispheres prepared in serial section of three patients who in life had shown difficulties with memory and spatial orientation.
Buren et al. (Sat,) studied this question.