Ecological Validity of List-Learning Tests and Self-Reported Memory in Healthy Individuals and Those with Temporal Lobe Epilepsy

Author: Helmstaedter C.   Hauff M.   Elger C. E.  

Publisher: Routledge Ltd

ISSN: 1380-3395

Source: Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology (Neuropsychology, Developm, Vol.20, Iss.3, 1998-06, pp. : 365-375

Disclaimer: Any content in publications that violate the sovereignty, the constitution or regulations of the PRC is not accepted or approved by CNPIEC.

Previous Menu Next

Abstract

We evaluated in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE) and healthy volunteers whether list-learning tests of episodic verbal/figural memory and subjective self-reports reliably indicate ``Memory in Reality'' (MIR). MIR was assessed by the incidental memory of the neuropsychological test event one week after testing. Subjective Memory was assessed by a questionnaire (SMQ). Patients achieved poorer results than controls in all measures of memory. Correlation and multiple regression analysis indicates that list-learning is highly predictive regarding performance in MIR. MIR predominantly relied on verbal memory in patients and on visual/figural memory in controls. Subjective memory differentiated patients and controls but it correlated to MIR only in subjects with unimpaired memory. In conclusion, the data indicate a high ecological validity of list-learning paradigms and they seriously question the diagnostic value of self-reported memory. They also indicate that incidentally acquired knowledge might be differentially represented in patients with a memory disorder and healthy persons.

Related content