TRAUMATIC BRAIN INJURY AND MEMORY - THE ROLE OF HIPPOCAMPAL ATROPHY

In traumatically brain-injured (TBI) patients (N = 83), memory perform ance was examined on the Warrington Recognition Memory Test, Rey-Oster rieth Complex Figure, and the Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction s ubtests of the Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised in relationship to time p ostinjury and structural changes based on MRI volumetry, including hip pocampus volume. Significant trauma-induced changes were observed, inc luding hippocampal atrophy. Structure-function relationships generally became significant only after 90 days postinjury. Memory tended to re late more to the degree of hippocampal atrophy, particularly left hipp ocampus, than to nonspecific indicators such as the temporal horns or the ventricle-to-brain ratio. A stronger relationship with left versus right hippocampus was evident for measures of verbal and supposedly n onverbal memory. These results are discussed with regard to the role t he hippocampus may play in a neural system of memory.