Persistence of a P3 component in severe amnestic syndrome

Event-related potentials (ERPs) to an odd-ball paradigm were recorded from 19 scalp derivations in a patient (47 years old, housewife) affected by complete amnestic syndrome following limbic encephalitis. CT scans and magnetic resonance imaging showed severe bilateral lesions of anterior, mid-temporal lobes and frontal lobes. A P3 component, with a peak latency inside normal limits for age-matched controls, was recorded to 'target' stimuli from all leads except Fp1, Fp2, F7, F8, T3 and T4.