[Disordered retrograde memory: diagnostic procedures in brain damage]

The maintenance of old memories subsequent to brain damage is discussed with the particular aim of pointing out problems and possibilities of measuring them post-injury. Relationships between forms of brain damage and retrograde amnesia are outlined, and various recent tests designed to measure old memories are specified and assessed. From this survey it is concluded that tests and test batteries are rather heterogenous so far and at best only crudely comparable between studies, and that a clinically practicable (i.e., short), yet valid and reliable test still has to be created.