Remote memory and neglect syndrome

Three patients with right cerebral infarctions and neglect syndrome failed to recall left hemispatial remote memories, even when the imagined orientation was reversed by 180 degrees. One patient was retested 4 months later and, although improved, continued to consistently recall more right-sided items. He was tested at east and west mental orientations with his head/eyes oriented physically to each side. Recall for items imagined in left hemispace improved 26% when his head/eye orientation was physically shifted from right to left hemispace. Findings suggest that the engrams for left-sided visuospatial memories in neglect syndrome are not destroyed, but rather fail to be activated.