Selective familiarity deficits after left anterior temporal-lobe removal with hippocampal sparing are material specific

► Recognition deficits after unilateral temporal-lobe resection can be selective for familiarity. ► Such selective familiarity impairments are material-specific. ► Left-sided resections produce verbal deficits regardless of whether material is meaningful or not. ► The mechanisms that support familiarity assessment appear to be tied to specific stimulus classes.