The modified Ruche visuospatial learning test (RUCHE-M) for the assessment of visuospatial episodic memory in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy: Preliminary evidence for the investigation of memory binding

Abstract

Introduction The Ruche test is a visuospatial form of the Rey auditory verbal learning test (RAVLT), with initial evidence of utility in the diagnosis of temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE)-related memory disorders. Aims To present the translation to Brazilian Portuguese and modification of the Ruche test (RUCHE-M) and compare the RUCHE-M and RAVLT performance between patients with right and left TLE. Methods Twenty-five neuropsychologists participated in instrument adaptation. Thirty-seven patients with right (n = 19) and left (n = 18) TLE participated. Data were compared with the Mann–Whitney U test. Results All specialists considered the final RUCHE-M to be adequate. The RUCHE-M forgetting speed index (FSI) score and several RAVLT scores differed significantly between patients with right and left TLE. Conclusion The RUCHE-M showed limited utility for the assessment of visuospatial episodic memory in patients with TLE. The manipulation of memory binding as demonstrated by FSI score seems to be a promising paradigm for the assessment of right hippocampal function.