Alcoholic Korsakoff's Syndrome: An Information-Processing Approach To Amnesia presents an overview of one of the theories of amnesia, namely, the extent to which it represents an information-processing deficit. The book discusses the clinical symptoms, neuropathology, and etiology of the alcoholic Korsakoff's syndrome; the influence of the original memory model on the research in amnesia; and the functional differences among long-term memory, short-term memory, and sensory memory. The text also describes encoding deficits; the depth of encoding and visuoperceptive deficits; as well as alternative theories of amnesia. Sensory capacities and the memory and cognitive disorders of chronic alcoholics are also considered. The book further reviews the differences among various amnesic and dementing populations. Neurologist, neuropsychologists, and students taking related courses will find the book invaluable.

Preface Acknowledgments 1 Clinical Symptoms, Neuropathology, and Etiology Neuropathology Etiology 2 The Original Memory Model Functional Differences among Long-Term Memory, Short-Term Memory, and Sensory Memory Short-Term-Long-Term-Memory Paradigms Frequently Used in Amnesia Research 3 Long-Term Memory Paired-Associate Learning Serial Learning Remote Memory Semantic Memory Motor Memory 4 Short-Term Memory Recency in Serial Learning Distractor Task Recall Rate of Retrieval from Short-Term Memory Sensory Memory Short-Term Motor Memory 5 Encoding Deficits 6 Depth of Encoding and Visuoperceptive Deficits Analyses of the Alcoholic Korsakoff Patient's Deficits on the Digit-Symbol Test Limited Encoding and the Alcoholic Korsakoff Patient's Deficits in Face Perception 7 Alternative Theories of Amnesia Consolidation Retrieval-Interference Theory Contextual Theory Other Theoretical Approaches Theoretical Conclusions 8 Are All Amnesics Alike Memory Disorders of Postencephalitic Patients Individual Case Studies Comparisons of Alcoholic Korsakoff and Dementing Patients 9 Sensory Capacities 10 Memory and Cognitive Disorders of Chronic Alcoholics References Subject Index