Volume of the human septal forebrain region is a predictor of source memory accuracy. J Int Neuropsychol Soc 2012 Jan;18(1):157-61
Date
12/14/2011Pubmed ID
22152217Pubmed Central ID
PMC3339258DOI
10.1017/S1355617711001421Scopus ID
2-s2.0-84855163306 (requires institutional sign-in at Scopus site) 25 CitationsAbstract
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.
Author List
Butler T, Blackmon K, Zaborszky L, Wang X, DuBois J, Carlson C, Barr WB, French J, Devinsky O, Kuzniecky R, Halgren E, Thesen TAuthor
Chad Carlson MD Professor in the Neurology department at Medical College of WisconsinMESH terms used to index this publication - Major topics in bold
AdultBrain Mapping
Female
Humans
Logistic Models
Magnetic Resonance Imaging
Male
Memory
Middle Aged
Neuropsychological Tests
Predictive Value of Tests
Septum of Brain
Verbal Learning
Young Adult