Personality and memory in childhood migraine.

A series of neuropsychological tests were administered to a group of healthy children and another group suffering from common migraine. The tests demonstrated that children with common migraine do not have definitely abnormal personality traits even though inhibition of aggressivity and greater anxiety levels following certain environmental stimuli were seen. We also observed a decreased short- and long-term memory function in children with common migraine.

Recovery from herpes simplex encephalitis: selective impairment of specific semantic categories with neuroradiological correlation.

The clinical, neuropsychological and neuroradiological features of two patients affected by herpes simplex virus type 1 (HSV-1) encephalitis are described. An experimental study for the assessment of naming, recognition and description displayed in one patient a persistent significant impairment in naming living things. The other patient showed a failing "semantic memory" for the same categories, although a significant impairment emerged only for plants. In both patients, the late neuroradiological sequelae were localised mainly in the inferior and middle gyri of the left temporal lobe and in the left-side insula. In one patient, the right-side insula was also involved. The selective cerebral damage induced by HSV-1 is stressed and a correlation between the neuroradiological and neuropsychological findings is attempted. The stereotyped anatomical and neuropsychological changes lead to the belief that the virus may recognise, within the limbic system, particular cellular "strains" on the basis of their molecular specificity.

Cognitive outcome and early indices of severity of head injury.

Neuropsychological outcome of 100 patients with severe head injuries is correlated with their clinical condition on admission. The aim of this paper is to estimate the reliability of several early indices of brain damage severity in formulating a prognosis. Both the Glasgow Coma Scale and the neurological syndrome involved appeared to be highly reliable in this respect. The duration of coma and of posttraumatic amnesia was not as significant. Since these two parameters were assessed when reviewing the cases, they have to be considered only as retrospective judgments. The findings emphasized the importance of reflex ocular motility and the value of recording electroencephalographic (EEG) activity, particularly EEG sleep patterns. The relationship between rapid eye movement sleep impairment and cognitive defects was highly significant. Analysis of surgical observations demonstrated that purely compressive expanding lesions were not as harmful as parenchymal damage. Of paramount importance was the time lapse between injury and surgery, since secondary lesions may develop and affect cerebral areas that are involved both in sleep organization and in memory functions.

Recognition memory alterations after severe head injury. Preliminary results in a series of 50 patients.

The Authors report a study on recognition memory in a series of 50 severe head injuries. The effect of cerebral trauma is expressed by reduction in recognition memory and in learning. A significant difference is found between frontal lesions and temporal lesions. Left temporal lobe damage causes a more severe deficit than right temporal lobe damage. Extradural and subdural haematomas cause no such severe deficit. Neurological syndrome of level of lesion significantly correlates with the performance. PTA duration shows no relation.