title: Thalamic Shape and Cognitive Performance in Amnestic Mild Cognitive Impairment.
abstract: OBJECTIVE
  This study aimed to investigate thalamic shape alterations and their relationships with various episodic memory impairments in subjects with amnestic mild cognitive impairment (aMCI).
  
  
  METHODS
  We compared volumes and morphological alterations of the thalamus between aMCI subjects and healthy controls. In addition, we investigated the correlation between thalamic deformations and various memory impairments in aMCI subjects using a comprehensive neuropsychological battery.
  
  
  RESULTS
  The normalized left thalamic volumes of the aMCI group were significantly smaller than those of the healthy control group (p<0.0001). aMCI subjects exhibited significant thalamic deformations in the left thalamic dorso-medial and antero-medial areas compared with healthy individuals. CERAD-K Word List Memory scores were significantly correlated with the left dorso-medial areas in aMCI subjects. There were no significant correlations between verbal fluency, Boston naming test, constructional praxis, Word List Recognition, and Visuospatial Recall scores and thalamic shape in aMCI subjects. Verbal delayed recall scores were also significantly correlated with the left dorso-medial areas in the aMCI group.
  
  
  CONCLUSIONS
  Structural alterations in the thalamic deformations in the left dorso-medial and antero-medial areas might be core underlying neurobiological mechanisms of thalamic dysfunction related to Word List Memory and delayed verbal recall in individuals with aMCI.
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Changtae
authors.initials: C
authors.lastname: Hahn
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Chang-Uk
authors.initials: CU
authors.lastname: Lee
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Wang Yeon
authors.initials: WY
authors.lastname: Won
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Soo-Hyun
authors.initials: SH
authors.lastname: Joo
authors.affiliation: Department of Psychiatry, College of Medicine, The Catholic University of Korea, Suwon, Republic of Korea.
authors.forename: Hyun Kook
authors.initials: HK
authors.lastname: Lim
keywords: Cognitive functions; Mild cognitive impairment; Thalamic shape