How do Patients With Amnesia Acquire New Knowledge?

The preservation of learning abilities is an essential aspect in the implementation of cognitive rehabilitation programs for patients with an amnesic syndrome. Particularly disabled on a daily basis, these patients have significant difficulties in coping with the demands of work and family life. Data from previous case studies attest to the ability of these patients to rely on preserved cognitive systems to learn new semantic information. However, the procedures for the acquisition of new information are sometimes long, not optimal and the clinical factors, that can influence it, are poorly identified. In addition, the brain networks necessary for such learning are still debated. In order to better understand the cognitive mechanisms and brain networks that underlie the ability to learn new semantic information, the research aims to study a group of patients with major memory impairment following medial temporal lobe lesions of various etiologies (non-degenerative). The study will use a combined psychometric and neuroimaging approach to identify the factors that enable these patients to successfully learn new semantic information.