Differential impairment of memory in Korsakoff's syndrome

Groups of Korsakoff, alcoholic and non-alcoholic subjects were given picture-recognition memory (patterns and objects) and verbal learning tasks. Korsakoff subjects were impaired relative to the two control groups on verbal learning and object-picture memory; on pattern memory Korsakoff and alcoholic subjects were comparable but both were inferior to non-alcoholics. These findings gave some support to the idea (Butters and Cermak, 1976) that visuo-spatial functions (represented here by pattern memory) are impaired through chronic alcoholism whilst the development of Korsakoff's syndrome induces an additional impairment in semantic processing of information (represented here by verbal learning and object-picture memory).