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A disproportionate role for the fornix and mammillary bodies in recall versus recognition memory

Nature Neuroscience volume 11, pages 834–842 (2008)Cite this article

Abstract

Uncovering the functional relationship between temporal lobe amnesia and diencephalic amnesia depends on determining the role of the fornix, the major interlinking fiber tract. In this study relating fornix volume with memory, we made magnetic resonance imaging–based volume estimates of 13 brain structures in 38 individuals with surgically removed colloid cysts. Fornix status was assessed directly by overall volume and indirectly by mammillary body volume (which atrophies after fornix damage). Mammillary body volume significantly correlated with 13 out of 14 tests of episodic memory recall, but correlated poorly with recognition memory. Furthermore, as the volumes of the left fornix and the left mammillary bodies decreased, the difference between recall and recognition scores increased. No other structure was consistently associated with memory. These findings support models of diencephalic memory mechanisms that require hippocampal inputs for recall, but not for key elements of recognition.

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Figure 1: The fornix and mammillary bodies in colloid cyst surgery patients.
Figure 2: Mammillary bodies and memory.
Figure 3: Scatter plots comparing the individual volumes (ICV normalized, × 1,000) for the mammillary bodies and hippocampus against the combined recall index and combined recognition index.

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Acknowledgements

The authors would like to thank the participants and their families for their generous contributions to this project and the neurosurgeons for facilitating access to their patients. The authors would also like to acknowledge the contribution of D. McMackin in the initial stages of this research project. This work was funded by the UK Medical Research Council (grant G0001371).

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Author notes

  1. Dimitris Tsivilis and Seralynne D Vann: These authors contributed equally to this work.

Authors and Affiliations

  1. School of Psychological Sciences, Zochonis Building, University of Manchester, Brunswick Street, Manchester, M13 9PL, UK

    Dimitris Tsivilis, Christine Denby, Andrew R Mayes & Daniela Montaldi

  2. School of Psychology, Cardiff University, Park Place, Cardiff, CF10 3AT, Wales, UK

    Seralynne D Vann & John P Aggleton

  3. Magnetic Resonance and Image Analysis Research Centre, University of Liverpool, Pembroke Place, Liverpool, L69 3GE, UK

    Neil Roberts

Authors
  1. Dimitris Tsivilis
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Contributions

All authors helped design and analyze the findings. Psychometric testing was conducted by D.T. and S.D.V., and volumetric assessments were conducted by C.D.

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Correspondence to Dimitris Tsivilis.

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Tsivilis, D., Vann, S., Denby, C. et al. A disproportionate role for the fornix and mammillary bodies in recall versus recognition memory. Nat Neurosci 11, 834–842 (2008). https://doi.org/10.1038/nn.2149

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