Fractionation of visual memory: Evidence from a case with multiple neurodevelopmental impairments

It is known that the adult visual memory system is fractionable into functi onally independent cognitive subsystems, selectively susceptible to brain d amage. However, it is unclear whether these cognitive subsystems can fracti onate developmentally. The present study describes an investigation of visu al memory of a patient (PE) with multiple developmental disorders. PE was c ongenitally deaf, had Gilles de la Tourette syndrome and autism, with non-v erbal ability in the normal range. The patient presented with a recognition memory impairment: for unknown human faces. This contrasted with his super ior recognition memory for unknown buildings, landscapes and outdoor scenes . PE's memory impairment for fades could not be explained by a general defi cit in face processing. Interestingly, PE also showed a recognition memory impairment for animals. These findings indicate that different domains of t he visual memory system can be fractionated developmentally, In particular, it demonstrates that topographical memory can develop independently from o ther aspects of visual memory. (C) 1999 Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights re served.