Medio-dorsal thalamus and confabulations: Evidence from a clinical case and combined MRI/DTI study.
The Medio-Dorsal Nuclei (MDN) including the thalamic magnocellular and parvocellular thalamic regions has been implicated in verbal memory function. In a 77 year old lady, with a prior history of a clinically silent infarct of the left MDN, we observed the acute onset of spontaneous confabulations when an isolated new infarct occurred in the right MDN. The patient and five age-matched healthy subjects underwent Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) and Diffusion Tensor Imaging (DTI). The thalamic lesions were localized by overlapping Morel Thalamic Atlas with structural MRI data. DTI was used to assess: i) white matter alterations (Fractional Anisotropy, FA) within fibers connecting the ischemic areas to cortex; ii) the micro-structural damage (Mean Diffusivity) within the thalamic sub-regions defined by their structural connectivity to the Anterior Cingulate Cortex (ACC) and to the temporal lobes. These target regions were chosen because their damage is considered associated with the appearance of confabulations. Thalamic lesions were localized within the parvocellular regions of the right and left MDNs. The structural connectivity study showed that the fiber tracts, connecting the bilaterally damaged thalamic regions with the frontal cortex, corresponded to the anterior thalamic radiations (ATR). FA within these tracts was significantly lower in the patient as compared to controls. Mean diffusivity within the MDNs projecting to Broadman area (BA) 24, BA25 and BA32 of ACC was significantly higher in the patient than in control group. Mean diffusivity values within the MDN projecting to temporal lobes in contrast were not different between patient and controls. Our findings suggest the involvement of bilateral MDNs projections to ACC in the genesis of confabulations and help provide clarity to the longstanding debate on the origin of confabulations.
Radiology Department, Policlinico Agostino Gemelli, Largo Agostino Gemelli 7, 00137 Roma, Italy.
Valeria
V
Onofrj
Department of Neuroscience Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via Vestini, 66103 Chieti Scalo, Italy.
Stefano
S
Delli Pizzi
Department of Neuroscience Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via Vestini, 66103 Chieti Scalo, Italy.
Raffaella
R
Franciotti
Institute of Neuroscience, Newcastle University, Campus for Ageing and Vitality, Newcastle upon Tyne NE4 5PL, UK.
John-Paul
JP
Taylor
Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Unit, "Fondazione Ospedale San Camillo" - I.R.C.C.S., Venice-Lido, Italy.
Bernardo
B
Perfetti
Department of Neuroscience Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via Vestini, 66103 Chieti Scalo, Italy.
Massimo
M
Caulo
Department of Neuroscience Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via Vestini, 66103 Chieti Scalo, Italy.
Marco
M
Onofrj
Department of Neuroscience Imaging, and Clinical Sciences, University G. D'Annunzio, Via Vestini, 66103 Chieti Scalo, Italy.
Laura
L
Bonanni
D000368:Aged; D001921:Brain / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D020520:Brain Infarction / Q000150:complications*; D056324:Diffusion Tensor Imaging; D005260:Female; D006801:Humans; D008279:Magnetic Resonance Imaging; D020645:Mediodorsal Thalamic Nucleus / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology*; D008569:Memory Disorders / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000209:etiology / Q000473:pathology*; D009434:Neural Pathways / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology; D009483:Neuropsychological Tests; D014057:Tomography, X-Ray Computed; D066127:White Matter / Q000000981:diagnostic imaging / Q000473:pathology
ACC, Anterior Cingulate Cortex; ACoA, Anterior communicating artery; AN, Anterior thalamic nuclei; ATR, Anterior thalamic radiations; Amnesia; BA, Broadman area; BEDPOSTX, Bayesian Estimation of Diffusion Parameters obtained using Sampling; BET, Brain Extraction Tool; CSF, cerebrospinal fluid; Confabulation; DTI, Diffusion Tensor Imaging; DWI-SE, Diffusion Weighted Image Spin-Echo; FA, Fractional Anisotropy; FAST, FMRIB's Automated Segmentation Tool; FIRST, FMRIB's Integrated Registration and Segmentation Tool; FLIRT, FMRIB's Linear Image Registration Tool; FNIRT, FMRIB's Non-Linear Registration Tools; KS, Korsakoff Syndrome; MDN, Medio-dorsal thalamic nuclei; MNI, Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI); MRI, Magnetic Resonance Imaging; Medio-dorsal thalamic region; SUSAN, Smallest Univalue Segment Assimilating Nucleus; TE, Echo time; TR, Repetition time; W TFE, Weighted Turbo Field-Echo W TFE