The specificity of thalamic alterations in Korsakoff's syndrome: Implications for the study of amnesia

The pathophysiological mechanisms behind amnesia are still unknown. Recent literature, through the study of patients with Alcohol Use Disorder with and without Korsakoff's syndrome, increasingly shows that physiological alterations to the thalamus have an important role in the development of amnesia. This review gives an overview of neuropsychological, neuropathological and neuroimaging contributions to the understanding of Korsakoff's syndrome, highlighting the central role of the thalamus in this amnesia. The thalamus being a multinucleus structure, the limitations regarding the loci, nature and alterations to specific nuclei are discussed, along with potential solutions. Finally, future directions for clinical research are laid out to unravel the intricacies inherent to amnesia. They consider the need to evaluate the physiological role of the thalamus, not only as an entity but also as part of a brain circuit through a more integrative approach.

Automated summary

The pathophysiological mechanisms behind amnesia are still unknown, but physiological alterations to the thalamus play an important role in its development, particularly in Korsakoff's syndrome. Understanding Korsakoff's syndrome involves various contributions from neuropsychology, neuropathology, and neuroimaging, with the thalamus as a central player. Future research directions include evaluating the physiological role of the thalamus within the context of brain circuits.