Spatial and temporal memories are affected by sleep fragmentation in obstructive sleep apnea syndrome

• Published in: Journal of clinical and experimental neuropsychology Vol. 30; no. 1; pp. 91 - 101
• Main Authors: Daurat, Agnès, Foret, Jean, Bret-Dibat, Jean-Luc, Fureix, Carole, Tiberge, Michel
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Colchester Taylor & Francis Group 01-01-2008; Taylor & Francis
• Subjects: Attention - physiology; Biological and medical sciences; Female; Humans; Male; Medical sciences; Memory Disorders - diagnosis; Memory Disorders - etiology; Mental Recall - physiology; Middle Aged; Neuropsychological Tests; Pneumology; Polysomnography - methods; Psychomotor Performance - physiology; Recognition (Psychology); Regression Analysis; Respiratory system : syndromes and miscellaneous diseases; Sleep Apnea, Obstructive - complications; Sleep Stages - physiology; Time Factors; Human; Nervous system diseases; Sleep apnea syndrome; Sleep; Respiratory disease; Cognition; Sleep wake cycle; Spatial memory
• ISSN: 1380-3395; 1744-411X
• DOI: 10.1080/13803390701236116

This study evaluated episodic memory, with an emphasis on the recollection of spatial and temporal contexts, in 28 patients suffering from obstructive sleep apnea syndrome and 29 healthy controls. Recollection was assessed by means of the R/K paradigm and the process-dissociation procedure. Attentional abilities were also evaluated. A polysomnographic assessment, including nocturnal oxygen saturation and daytime sleepiness, was conducted. Recollection was strongly disturbed in patients, the number of microarousals being the best predictor of the memory deficit. Attention was only slightly disturbed. Results suggest a link between episodic memory deficit and those areas of the brain that are particularly sensitive to sleep fragmentation, in particular the hippocampus.