Goal: This study investigates the correlations of some novel methods of measuring spatial memory to standard neuropsychological methods. Methods: In a laboratory established in the department of Neurology, Hospital Na Homolce in Prague, modification of animal tests of spatial memory was used for testing humans. Additionally, computer analogies of real navigation tests were made, which could be applied for screening a large number of patients for detection of early symptoms of memory disorders. The original 32 variables of spatial memory were converted to 7 variables. Among standard neuropsychology tests, the WAIS-R, WMS-R, HRNB, WMS, Benton test of visual retention and Rey-Osterrieth complex figure were used. Fifty-four patients participated in the study, including 37 patients and 17 students. Among the patients, one subgroup (n=20) was scheduled for brain surgery for pharmacoresistant epilepsy, usually hippocampectomy, another subgroup (n=17) had already undergone a thermolesion of the amygdala-hippocampus complex. The students were without history of neurological or psychiatric disorders. Results: A number of statistically significant correlations were detected. For example, in a spatial memory variable Hidden Goal 1-4, the correlation of errors with nonverbal intelligence is -0.636, p< 0.001,with verbal intelligence -0.403, p<0.05 at n=34. The General Neuropsychological Deficit Scale, HRNB, is related to the number of errors in the spatial memory variable Perception 2 and 6 (r = 0.800, p<0.01, n=15). Late beginning of epileptic disease is associated with smaller occurrence of spatial memory errors (r = -0.360, p<0.05, n=29, variable Hidden Goal 1-4). Conclusion: The newly created tests of spatial memory, based upon modified tests of spatial navigation in animals, as well as the derived computer analogies of real navigation tests are in humans also related to intelligence, memory, neuropsychological deficit, education, age and the beginning of epileptic disease.

        Key words: spatial memory, memory, spatial navigation, hippocampus, neuropsychology, epilepsy, neurosurgery, amygdala-hippocampectomy, cognitive abilities, pre-surgical evaluation of epilepsy.