Jazz, guitar, and neurosurgery: the Pat Martino case report

Abstract

Objective: We present the case of a professional jazz guitarist with temporal lobe epilepsy secondary to an arteriovenous cerebral malformation.

Case description: The patient underwent a left temporal lobectomy in 1980. After surgery, he presented with severe retrograde amnesia and complete loss of musical interest and capabilities. The patient's musical abilities recovered over time, and he regained his previous virtuoso status. In 2007, his medical history, neuropsychologic functions, and structural magnetic resonance imaging study were examined and revealed a remarkable degree of recovery of memory and musical abilities in the context of extensive temporal lobe resection. The neuropsychologic findings and neuroanatomic features of the magnetic resonance imaging study were analyzed to try to understand the high degree of recovery of both long-term memory and musical processing abilities in this musician.

Conclusions: This case reveals the possibility of an unusual degree of cerebral plasticity and reorganization. Additionally, it emphasizes the question of musical virtuosity. This report shows that the musical capabilities of professional musicians, in specific cases, can completely recover even when much of the left temporal lobe has been removed.

Keywords: Amnesia; Amygdala; Auditory-motor interrelations; Brain; Brain plasticity; Cerebral arteriovenous malformation; Epilepsy; Hippocampus; Memory; Music; Neurologic deficit; Neuropsychologic assessment; Neuroscience; Temporal lobe.