I am working with a patient who has bilateral orbital frontal and
temporal lesions from carbon monoxide poisoning. He is densely amnesic,
and has many cognitive deficits but seems unaware of (or unwilling to
admit) to these deficits. For example, after failing a single digit
addition task, he will reply "perfect" when asked to grade his
performance. He does not confabulate, but gives bizarre answers to the
Shallice Cognitive Estimation task e.g. an estimate of 6 feet for the
height of a tall building.
Awareness deficits are apparently quite common after brain injury, but
can anyone recommend, or think of, any tasks that would help to decide
whether there is a psychological or "organic" basis to this awareness
deficit? Thanks, Bob James
