In studies of KS patients, researchers have obtained additional findings supporting frontal-system dysfunction (Oscar-Berman and Hutner 1993). Neuropsychological studies have shown that KS patients exhibit clinical signs associated with damage to the frontal cortex (e.g., emotional apathy, personality changes and loss of inhibitions, and constant repetition of certain responses despite feedback indicating that such responses are incorrect or inappropriate [i.e., abnormal response perseveration]). Although much debate centers on the connection between measures of alcohol consumption and the degree of structural or functional impairment in non-KS alcoholics, research so far has failed to demonstrate a clear connection between measures of alcohol intake, cognitive dysfunction, and frontal damage.
