[Neuroanatomical Networks Supporting Memory and Their Relation to Amnesia; a View from the Thalamus]

The anterior and mediodorsal thalamic nuclei form neuroanatomical networks supporting memory along with the mammillary body, medial temporal structures, prefrontal cortices and posterior cingulate cortex. In this review article, we discuss human diencephalic amnesic syndromes, including Wernicke-Korsakoff syndrome and amnesia associated with thalamic infarcts, and animal neuropsychological studies from a neuroanatomical network perspective. In addition, we suggest future research directions for understanding the functional roles of the anterior and mediodorsal thalamic nuclei in memory function based on findings from recent animal studies.