Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.

The relationship between anterograde and retrograde amnesia remains unclear. Previous data from both clinical neuropsychology and monkey lesion studies suggest that damage to discrete subcortical structures leads to a relatively greater degree of anterograde than retrograde amnesia, whereas damage t...

Повний опис

Бібліографічні деталі
Автори: Mitchell, A, Browning, P, Wilson, C, Baxter, MG, Gaffan, D
Формат: Journal article
Мова:English
Опубліковано: 2008
_version_ 1826296636300591104
author Mitchell, A
Browning, P
Wilson, C
Baxter, MG
Gaffan, D
author_facet Mitchell, A
Browning, P
Wilson, C
Baxter, MG
Gaffan, D
author_sort Mitchell, A
collection OXFORD
description The relationship between anterograde and retrograde amnesia remains unclear. Previous data from both clinical neuropsychology and monkey lesion studies suggest that damage to discrete subcortical structures leads to a relatively greater degree of anterograde than retrograde amnesia, whereas damage to discrete regions of cortex leads to the opposite pattern of impairments. Nevertheless, damage to the medial diencephalon in humans is associated with both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. In the present study, we sought to reconcile this by assessing retention as well as subsequent relearning and new postoperative learning. Rhesus monkeys learned 300 unique scene discriminations preoperatively, and retention was assessed in a preoperative and postoperative one-trial retrieval test. Combined bilateral subcortical lesions to the magnocellular mediodorsal thalamus and fornix impaired postoperative retention of the preoperatively acquired information. In addition, subsequent relearning and new postoperative learning were also impaired. This contrasts with the effects of a discrete lesion to just one of these structures, after which retention is intact in both cases. Discrete bilateral ablations to the entorhinal cortex impaired retention but had no effect on new learning. Combined with previous work from our laboratory, these results support the hypothesis that subcortical damage has a relatively greater effect on new learning, and cortical damage has a relatively greater effect on retention. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that retrograde amnesia occurs as a result of subcortical damage only if it is widespread, leading to an extensive disruption of cortical functioning. Damage of this nature may account for dense amnesia.
first_indexed 2024-03-07T04:19:24Z
format Journal article
id oxford-uuid:ca7f42c7-d080-491e-9dbe-dcc02bd03f3a
institution University of Oxford
language English
last_indexed 2024-03-07T04:19:24Z
publishDate 2008
record_format dspace
spelling oxford-uuid:ca7f42c7-d080-491e-9dbe-dcc02bd03f3a2022-03-27T07:07:54ZDissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.Journal articlehttp://purl.org/coar/resource_type/c_dcae04bcuuid:ca7f42c7-d080-491e-9dbe-dcc02bd03f3aEnglishSymplectic Elements at Oxford2008Mitchell, ABrowning, PWilson, CBaxter, MGGaffan, DThe relationship between anterograde and retrograde amnesia remains unclear. Previous data from both clinical neuropsychology and monkey lesion studies suggest that damage to discrete subcortical structures leads to a relatively greater degree of anterograde than retrograde amnesia, whereas damage to discrete regions of cortex leads to the opposite pattern of impairments. Nevertheless, damage to the medial diencephalon in humans is associated with both retrograde and anterograde amnesia. In the present study, we sought to reconcile this by assessing retention as well as subsequent relearning and new postoperative learning. Rhesus monkeys learned 300 unique scene discriminations preoperatively, and retention was assessed in a preoperative and postoperative one-trial retrieval test. Combined bilateral subcortical lesions to the magnocellular mediodorsal thalamus and fornix impaired postoperative retention of the preoperatively acquired information. In addition, subsequent relearning and new postoperative learning were also impaired. This contrasts with the effects of a discrete lesion to just one of these structures, after which retention is intact in both cases. Discrete bilateral ablations to the entorhinal cortex impaired retention but had no effect on new learning. Combined with previous work from our laboratory, these results support the hypothesis that subcortical damage has a relatively greater effect on new learning, and cortical damage has a relatively greater effect on retention. Furthermore, the results demonstrate that retrograde amnesia occurs as a result of subcortical damage only if it is widespread, leading to an extensive disruption of cortical functioning. Damage of this nature may account for dense amnesia.
spellingShingle Mitchell, A
Browning, P
Wilson, C
Baxter, MG
Gaffan, D
Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.
title Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.
title_full Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.
title_fullStr Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.
title_full_unstemmed Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.
title_short Dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition.
title_sort dissociable roles for cortical and subcortical structures in memory retrieval and acquisition
work_keys_str_mv AT mitchella dissociablerolesforcorticalandsubcorticalstructuresinmemoryretrievalandacquisition
AT browningp dissociablerolesforcorticalandsubcorticalstructuresinmemoryretrievalandacquisition
AT wilsonc dissociablerolesforcorticalandsubcorticalstructuresinmemoryretrievalandacquisition
AT baxtermg dissociablerolesforcorticalandsubcorticalstructuresinmemoryretrievalandacquisition
AT gaffand dissociablerolesforcorticalandsubcorticalstructuresinmemoryretrievalandacquisition