The involvement of the medial thalamus in memory

Damage to the diencephalic regions of the human brain is known to cause a profound amnesic syndrome. Clinical data and experimental work in animals have pointed to various thalamic nuclei and to the mammillary bodies as the potential diencephalic candidates implicated in mnemonic processing. However, the identification of diencephalic loci that play a critical role in the learning and retention of experience is extremely controversial, although the literature points to the 'medial thalamus' as critically involved in diencephalic amnesia. The data indicate that multiple circuits. which are partially independent and partially overlapping. and are probably involved in different aspects of memory, are relayed through the thalamus, and their damage may account for memory impairment.