Verbal memory impairment after left insular cortex infarction

PET studies have shown an association between changes in blood flow in the insular cortex and verbal memory. This study compared verbal memory profile s between a group of four right handed patients with right insular infarcti on and a group of six right handed patients with left insular infarction. P atient groups were comparable in age, education, and sex. Patients were adm inistered memory tests about 4-8 weeks poststroke. Patients with left insul ar lesions showed significantly poorer immediate and delayed verbal memory as measured by story A of the WMS-R logical memory I (t=-2.73, p<0.03) and logical memory II (t=-4.1, p<0.004) subtests as well as the CERAD word list memory (delayed recall) (t=-2.4, p<0.05). These findings indicate that lef t insular damage is associated with poorer performance on verbal memory tas ks. The findings suggest that the insula may be part of a functional networ k that mediates verbal memory.