Recovery of visual-spatial learning and memory in chronic alcoholics

Administered the Memory-for-Designs Test and a verbal and visuospatial paired associate learning test to separate groups of alcoholics (N = 32) 3 and 11 weeks abstinent from alcohol and to a matched control group (N = 16). Alcoholics were not impaired in verbal learning. Alcoholics 3 weeks abstinent performed significantly less well than controls on all nonverbal tasks and less well than 11-weeks alcoholics on one nonverbal measure. No significant differences were found between 11-week alcoholics and controls. The results suggest that some recovery of function may occur in alcoholics after 10 weeks of abstinence. The data also support the hypothesis of impaired right hemisphere in alcoholics.