The possibility of a 'subcortical' syndrome differentially affecting memory in traumatic brain injury (TBI) subjects was examined. Magnetic resonance imaging scans of 46 traumatic brain injured male patients were compared with those of 34 male control subjects. Surface area measurements of the corpus striatum were calculated for both groups. Results demonstrated no significant differences in corpus striatum surface area measurements. Additionally, TBI patients were grouped according to severity of injury, as well as degree of corpus striatum atrophy, and neuropsychological outcome was examined. There were modest (r = 0.35) but significant correlations between corpus striatum degeneration and the delayed recall trial and total score of the Rey Auditory Verbal Learning Test, but no other correlations between neuropsychological and corpus striatal surface area were significant. Because subcortical pathology may have a differential effect on memory, recognition and recall memory were further analysed, but no significant differences were found. TBI subjects with the smallest corpus striatum values did not test significantly different from TBI patients with normal corpus striatum values or differences in cortical atrophy, as determined by a ventricle-to-brain ratio. These findings suggest that there is not a unique pattern of subcortical pathology involving the corpus striatum in TBI.