ABSTRACT
This chapter is about the use of memory assessment procedures with brain damaged patients for both clinical and research purposes. As some memory disorders unquestionably are triggered by reductions in aspects of intelligence, motivation or concentration, a complete understanding of a patient's pattern of memory disorder would also require assessment of pre- and post-morbid intelligence, and of current levels of motivation and concentration. Basal ganglia and cerebellar lesions are among those that affect skill learning and conditioning, and priming may be affected by association cortex lesions and also possibly by those of the basal ganglia. The Rivermead Behavioural Memory Test differs from the majority of published memory tests and batteries in its explicit attempt to sample memory behaviours characteristic of everyday life, rather than the traditional "laboratory-type" learning and memory task. Most research on organic memory disorders has been concerned with organic amnesia, its detailed characterisation and the determination of whether or not it comprises several sub-syndromes.
