In 1937, Papez described a circuit for the processing of emotions, which has subsequently proved to be critical for memory function.1 Various pathological entities can affect structures in this circuit, resulting in amnestic syndromes. In this issue of the Journal (pp 13–28), two related papers by Colchester et al 2 and Kopelman et al 3 used volumetric MR to assess the differing patterns of atrophy in patients with amnesia caused by several neurological diseases, and to examine the relation of these MR volumes to cognitive performance.

A great deal of recent work has focused on detecting atrophy in patients with neurodegenerative dementias, in particular Alzheimer's disease. Recent papers have reported significant atrophy in structures within the medial temporal lobe in memory impaired subjects even before the clinical diagnosis of Alzheimer's disease.4-6Relatively few studies have examined volumes of medial temporal lobe and other memory subserving structures in non-degenerative amnestic syndromes.

The report of Colchester et al 2suggests that atrophy among the components of the circuit of Papez can be reliably quantified using MR volumetric assessment, and that amnestic syndromes of varying aetiology show specific patterns of atrophy. Of particular interest was the consistent finding of thalamic atrophy in the patients with Korsakoff's syndrome.

Complementing this work, Kopelman et al 3 examined the correlations between MR volumes of multiple brain regions and performance on several cognitive tests in patients with amnestic and other cognitive syndromes. Of note, the strongest relations were seen between hippocampal volume and anterograde memory measures, particularly evident in a factor analysis of the neuropsychological tests, although the thalamic measures did correlate with several memory tests.

These studies provide additional evidence for the critical role of the hippocampus in memory, and support the contribution of additional structures within the circuit of Papez to memory function. This work suggests that volumetric MR may be useful in elucidating the pattern of injury to neuroanatomical networks in various cognitive impairment syndromes.