Executive Dyscontrol of Learning and Memory on the HVLT-R: Findings from a clade C HIV-positive South African sample

South Africa is home to the largest number of people living with HIV in the world. The virus follows a distinct neuropathological and neuropsychological pattern, affecting specific neural structures and neurocognitive functions. One of the neurocognitive functions affected is verbal learning and memory. I explored clade C HIV-positive participants’ performance on component processes of a verbal learning and memory test, known as the Hopkins Verbal Learning Test—Revised (HVLT-R). While this test was designed for verbal learning and memory performance, it also taps into various aspects of executive functioning, that can either improve or inhibit performance. My study looked at whether poor performance on the HVLT-R was purely a memory deficit, or whether it was due to aspects of executive dyscontrol related to prefrontostratial circuitry damage. I used independent samples t-tests to look at group differences between 53 HIV-positive individuals, and 53 HIV-negative individuals.