Preservation of acquired music performance functions with a dominant hemisphere lesion: a case report

This paper presents evidence of preservation of acquired music performance functions in a right-handed man with a large dominant hemisphere lesion. Results of music testing, speech pathology testing, neuropsychological testing and neurological examination are presented, with evidence of intact music skills (melodic perception and an ability to read at sight) being compared with lost skills (auditory processing span of 3 digits forward, and impairment of complex rhythmic tasks). Interpretations are offered in light of contemporary theories suggesting that brain processes for musical memory involve different cerebral systems to those for verbal memory.