Congenital absence of the mammillary bodies: a novel finding in a well-studied case of developmental amnesia

R Shayna Rosenbaum; Fuqiang Gao; Kie Honjo; Charles Raybaud; Rosanna K Olsen; Daniela J Palombo; Brian Levine; Sandra E Black

doi:10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.09.047

Congenital absence of the mammillary bodies: a novel finding in a well-studied case of developmental amnesia

Neuropsychologia. 2014 Dec:65:82-7. doi: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.09.047. Epub 2014 Oct 7.

Authors

R Shayna Rosenbaum¹, Fuqiang Gao², Kie Honjo², Charles Raybaud³, Rosanna K Olsen⁴, Daniela J Palombo⁵, Brian Levine⁶, Sandra E Black⁷

Affiliations

¹ Department of Psychology, York University, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M3J 1P3; Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1. Electronic address: [email protected].
² LC Campbell Cognitive Neurology Research Unit, Brain Science Research Program, Sunnybrook Research Institute, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5.
³ Division of Neuroradiology, Hospital for Sick Children, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5G 1X8; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1W7.
⁴ Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1.
⁵ Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G3.
⁶ Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1; Department of Psychology, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5S 3G3; Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5.
⁷ Rotman Research Institute Baycrest Health Sciences, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M6A 2E1; Department of Medical Imaging, University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M5T 1W7; Department of Medicine (Neurology), University of Toronto, Toronto, Ontario, Canada M4N 3M5.

PMID: 25301386
DOI: 10.1016/j.neuropsychologia.2014.09.047

Abstract

Individuals with developmental amnesia experience compromised development of episodic memory for details of personal life events, believed to relate to changes to the hippocampus after birth. Here we report the very rare discovery of aplasia of the mammillary bodies, hypogenesis of the fornix, and abnormal hippocampal shape and orientation in H.C., a well-documented case of selectively compromised episodic memory development who is the subject of numerous published empirical articles. These anatomical abnormalities are highly suggestive of disrupted extended hippocampal system development very early in gestation, despite an original diagnosis of developmental amnesia and assumed perinatal hypoxia. These findings provide a unique window into the normal function of the mammillary bodies, fornices, and related anterior nuclei of the thalamus bilaterally. The results also encourage re-examination of the pathological basis of developmental amnesia in other cases reported in the literature.

Keywords: Case study; Developmental amnesia; Episodic memory; Extended hippocampal system; Mammillary bodies.

Publication types

Case Reports
Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

Adult
Amnesia / etiology*
Female
Humans
Mammillary Bodies / abnormalities*
Memory, Episodic*
Young Adult

Abstract

Publication types

MeSH terms

Grants and funding