Reorganization of verbal memory and language: a case of dissociation

Left-to-right reorganization of verbal memory following early left hemisphere damage has been reported in patients whose expressive language is governed by the right hemisphere. We present a case in which verbal memory performance was intact, despite severe left mesial temporal damage, and despite aphasia on left internal carotid sodium amytal ablation. The distribution and degree of left mesial temporal damage was assessed visually and quantitatively on MRI. These findings raise the possibility that verbal memory may shift to the language-nondominant hemisphere as a result of early left mesial temporal damage.