title: Volume of the human septal forebrain region is a predictor of source memory accuracy.
abstract: Septal nuclei, components of basal forebrain, are strongly and reciprocally connected with hippocampus, and have been shown in animals to play a critical role in memory. In humans, the septal forebrain has received little attention. To examine the role of human septal forebrain in memory, we acquired high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging scans from 25 healthy subjects and calculated septal forebrain volume using recently developed probabilistic cytoarchitectonic maps. We indexed memory with the California Verbal Learning Test-II. Linear regression showed that bilateral septal forebrain volume was a significant positive predictor of recognition memory accuracy. More specifically, larger septal forebrain volume was associated with the ability to recall item source/context accuracy. Results indicate specific involvement of septal forebrain in human source memory, and recall the need for additional research into the role of septal nuclei in memory and other impairments associated with human diseases.
authors.affiliation: Comprehensive Epilepsy Center, Department of Neurology, New York University Medical Center, 223 East 34th Street, New York, NY 10016, USA. tracy.butler@nyumc.org
authors.forename: Tracy
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Butler
authors.forename: Karen
authors.initials: K
authors.lastname: Blackmon
authors.forename: Laszlo
authors.initials: L
authors.lastname: Zaborszky
authors.forename: Xiuyuan
authors.initials: X
authors.lastname: Wang
authors.forename: Jonathan
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: DuBois
authors.forename: Chad
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Carlson
authors.forename: William B
authors.initials: WB
authors.lastname: Barr
authors.forename: Jacqueline
authors.initials: J
authors.lastname: French
authors.forename: Orrin
authors.initials: O
authors.lastname: Devinsky
authors.forename: Ruben
authors.initials: R
authors.lastname: Kuzniecky
authors.forename: Eric
authors.initials: E
authors.lastname: Halgren
authors.forename: Thomas
authors.initials: T
authors.lastname: Thesen
mesh_terms: D000328:Adult; D001931:Brain Mapping; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D016015:Logistic Models; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D008297:Male; D008568:Memory / Q000502:physiology*; D008875:Middle Aged; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D011237:Predictive Value of Tests; D020665:Septum of Brain / Q000033:anatomy & histology / Q000502:physiology*; D014706:Verbal Learning / Q000502:physiology; D055815:Young Adult