Living in the Past: The Pathology of Anterograde Amnesia

Abstract

In this review, a model of anterograde amnesia was proposed, including the diencephalon, the medial temporal lobe and the routes that connect these two brain regions. Structures within these brain regions was proved to be related with anterograde amnesia in former studies. The structures are mamillary bodies and thalamus in the diencephalon, hippocampus in the medial temporal lobe, and fornix that links the hippocampus to the diencephalon. Damage to these brain structures could result in anterograde memory impairment. Results of several case studies were discussed in this review as pieces of evidence that support this model. In the second part of the review, the effect of different factors, including alcohol, hypoglycaemia and carbon monoxide, could have to these brain structures were stated. Dysfunction of the thalamus, hippocampus and mamillary bodies was believed to be responsible for anterograde amnesia after heavy alcohol consumption, and dysfunction of the hippocampus was ascribed for memory impairment following hypoglycaemia and carbon monoxide inhaling.