Memory for subject performed tasks in patients with Korsakoff syndrome.

We examined the ability of alcoholic Korsakoff patients to remember verbal and action-related information. Eight Korsakoff patients and eight alcoholic control subjects learned action phrases in either subject-performed tasks (SPTs) or verbal tasks (VTs). Free recall and recognition tests were then administered. Despite the severe anterograde amnesia observed in Korsakoff patients for VTs, their memory performance for SPTs was similarly facilitated over VTs as was the case with alcoholic controls. Domains preserved in this amnesic syndrome may account for the benefit seen when using SPTs in Korsakoff patients. The therapeutic utilization of action events for memory rehabilitation is discussed.