The Role of Anterior Nuclei of the Thalamus: A Subcortical Gate in Memory Processing: An Intracerebral Recording Study

PLoS One. 2015 Nov 3;10(11):e0140778. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0140778. eCollection 2015.

Abstract

Objective: To study the involvement of the anterior nuclei of the thalamus (ANT) as compared to the involvement of the hippocampus in the processes of encoding and recognition during visual and verbal memory tasks.

Methods: We studied intracerebral recordings in patients with pharmacoresistent epilepsy who underwent deep brain stimulation (DBS) of the ANT with depth electrodes implanted bilaterally in the ANT and compared the results with epilepsy surgery candidates with depth electrodes implanted bilaterally in the hippocampus. We recorded the event-related potentials (ERPs) elicited by the visual and verbal memory encoding and recognition tasks.

Results: P300-like potentials were recorded in the hippocampus by visual and verbal memory encoding and recognition tasks and in the ANT by the visual encoding and visual and verbal recognition tasks. No significant ERPs were recorded during the verbal encoding task in the ANT. In the visual and verbal recognition tasks, the P300-like potentials in the ANT preceded the P300-like potentials in the hippocampus.

Conclusions: The ANT is a structure in the memory pathway that processes memory information before the hippocampus. We suggest that the ANT has a specific role in memory processes, especially memory recognition, and that memory disturbance should be considered in patients with ANT-DBS and in patients with ANT lesions. ANT is well positioned to serve as a subcortical gate for memory processing in cortical structures.

Publication types

  • Research Support, Non-U.S. Gov't

MeSH terms

  • Adult
  • Anterior Thalamic Nuclei / physiopathology*
  • Deep Brain Stimulation
  • Electrodes, Implanted
  • Electroencephalography
  • Epilepsy / physiopathology
  • Evoked Potentials
  • Female
  • Hippocampus / physiopathology*
  • Humans
  • Male
  • Memory*
  • Middle Aged

Grants and funding

This work was supported by the research project CEITEC MU—Central European Institute of Technology Masaryk University. The technical part of the study was also supported by the projects GA GACR P103/11/0933 and Application Laboratories of Advanced Microtechnologies and Nanotechnologies, CZ.1.05/2.1.00/01.0017, co-funded by the “Research and Development for Innovations” Operational Programme the European Regional Development Fund and the state budget. The funders had no role in study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript.