[Learning processing in an epileptic with amnesia after memory task repetition].

We reported that some learning accomplished by an epileptic patient (YS) with organic amnesia after memory task repetition. YS's learning appeared inflexible; That was depending memory task procedural. The purpose of this paper is to investigate procedural learning processing in YS with memory disorder. We examined procedural learning in picture naming task repetition in YS and normal controls, using semantic priming paradigm. After start key press, a prime picture was displayed on the CRT display, thereafter, a target picture appeared. The subjects' task was to name the target picture aloud as rapidly and accurately as possible. In the examination, we manipulated a time interval between start key press and the prime on. Two interval conditions were used. One was the constant interval, 1010ms and another was varied interval, varied between 400ms and 1010ms. After conditioning session with constant interval, the test session with constant and varied interval was carried out. We analyzed reaction time (RT) in naming the picture targets in the test session in relation to the conditions. YS's RT in the test session with constant was shorter than in the test session with varied interval. No interval effects were found in the controls. The results indicated that previous experiment in conditioning session had larger effect on the YS's performance than the controls'. This suggests hypotheses that the learning in the patient with amnesia is tied to the specific conditions in the learning experience. The results can be explained in terms of procedural learning in YS, which is automatic processing.