Neuropsychological proof for the relationship between the posterior parietal cortex and episodic memory

The influence or necessity of the posterior parietal cortex (PPC) in episodic
memory is currently under debate. Several studies on healthy subjects have
addressed the question whether PPC activity is related to mechanisms central to
episodic memory per se, or rather associated with subsidiary processes such as
attention, motor preparation demands, effort and self-related information
processing. Hence important insights might follow from studying the
consequences of PPC lesions on episodic memory tasks. Its influence on the
other closely related cognitive skills such as perception, mental imagery,
attention, and effort, all indirectly influencing episodic memory, need further
investigation as well. It is also necessary to check for necessary involvement
of other brain areas on episodic memory before the conclusion can be drawn that
PPC and episodic memory are necessarily related. The necessity of involvement
of PPC or other brain areas can only be supported by reporting on patients with
and without lesions in PPC.

Main objective: Contributing to the debate on the necessity of PPC in episodic
memory by support of patient data.
Secondary objective: Exploring the episodic memory theorem and developing a
more sensitive (neuropsychological) research tool usable in the clinical
setting.

A battery of non-invasive tasks aimed at inventorying memory problems and to
profile cognitive skills will be administered. Most neuropsychological tests
used will be standardised tests with normative references. Two experimental
neuropsychological tests will be designed of which normative data needs to be
collected using a control population.
In the early phase, all neuropsychological measurements will take place within
14 days of the admittance of the patients to the University Medical Centre
Utrecht. This assessment is care as usual of the Department of Neurology of the
UMCU.
A follow-up at about six months will take place to measure lasting cognitive
effects of the infarction. This follow-up will take place either at the
University Medical Centre Utrecht, Utrecht University, or at the patient*s
home, depending on the needs and limitations of the patients. This follow-up is
part of a scientific study and is strictly voluntary.

The patients have to sit through a neuropsychological evaluation of at
approximately 2 hours (with breaks), depending on the capabilities of the
patient. The duration of the assessment is proven feasible in previous
documented studies. The tests all exist of non-invasive pen and paper tests, or
oral tests. The assessment can be terminated without consequences at any given
time when the participants feel they can take no more, or when the tests
administrator thinks continuation is unwise. The neuropsychological follow-up
assessment of a maximum of 3 hours (with breaks), again consisting of only pen
and paper and oral tests, is also voluntary and can be terminated without
consequences.