The Japanese journal of neuropsychology

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ArticleTitle	The controversies of the frontal lobe functions -The role of frontal lobes on memory-
Language	J
AuthorList	Masaru Mimura
Affiliation	Department of Neuropsychiatry, Showa University School of Medicine
Publication	Japanese Journal of Neuropsychology: 16 (3), 171-178, 2000
Received
Accepted
Abstract	The role of frontal lobes on memory was discussed from two standpoints. First, discussion was focused on whether the frontal lobes play a primary role in some specific frontal-related memory problems, including recency judgement and proactive interference. It appears that the frontal lobes play a secondary role in these specific memory problems, by affecting general aspects of manipulation and processes of multiple outer stimuli. However, the frontal lobes are preferentially involved in the temporal and sequential human behaviors, thus frontal dysfunctions may most typically be shown in memory performances. Second, relationship between memory and frontal lobes was further discussed in the traditional word list learning paradigm. In two experiments frontal lobe damaged patients demonstrated impairments in word list learning. However, main factors affecting performance on the word list learning included impaired subjective organization (Experiment 1) and abnormal retrieval inhibition (Experiment 2). The results of these two experiments further supported the notion that memory deficits in frontal lobe damaged patients is interpreted as secondary, being caused by more general deficits in information processing.
Keywords	Frontal lobe, prefrontal cortex, memory, list learning, organization