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Abstract

Seventeen aneurysm patients demonstrating good recoveries
following intracranial surgery for aneurysm were assessed
with 17 neurosurgical control subjects on a battery of
neuropsychological measures. The results of this study
suggest that at least in the short-term, subtle cognitive
deficits are part of the clinical picture following
intracranial surgery for aneurysm. This is the case with
aneurysm patients who demonstrate a relatively uncomplicated
recovery with no obvious residual neurological deficits. The
aneurysm group performed worse on all measures. The Rey
Visual Design Learning Test was able to significantly
differentiate between the groups with the aneurysm patients
exhibiting a poor learning curve relative to controls. In
addition, the Weschler Memory Scale - Revised Visual Paired
Associates I and the Visual Reproduction II Subtests were
able to discriminate between the groups. With the Rey
Auditory Verbal Learning Test, only the first recall
condition following an intervening task was significantly
sensitive to differences between the groups. The results
suggest that visual learning is more sensitive to subtle and
mild brain impairment. A supraspan test of visual learning
seems particularly sensitive. The results suggest that the
aneurysm patients have a relatively normal immediate memory
span for visual material yet find it difficult to exceed this
span. These problems with the aquisition and retention of this
material are made obvious under recognition and recall
conditions. Statistical analyses indicate moderate to high
correlations between the verbal and visual learning tests.
Limitations of the present study are also discussed. These
findings have significant clinical implications and form the
foundation for future research.

Item Type:	Thesis - Unspecified
Authors/Creators:	Meredith, Keith
Keywords:	Memory disorders, Brain, Intracranial aneurysms
Copyright Holders:	The Author
Copyright Information:	Copyright 1994 the Author - The University is continuing to endeavour to trace the copyright owner(s) and in the meantime this item has been reproduced here in good faith. We would be pleased to hear from the copyright owner(s).
Additional Information:	Includes bibliographical references (leaves 83-88). Thesis (M.Psych.)--University of Tasmania, 1995
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