Limbic system atrophy and memory dysfunction are
common in patients with temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE). However,
the relationship between extrahippocampal limbic structures
and memory functioning within TLE has received little attention.
The present study examined associations of MRI volumetric
measurements of the mammillary body, fornix, amygdala,
and hippocampus to measures of episodic verbal and visual
memory. The Logical Memory and Visual Reproduction subtests
from the Wechsler Memory Scale were administered to 47
unilateral TLE patients (25 right, 22 left). Normalized
right and left MRI volumes were determined for each patient
by cursor tracing 1.5 mm slices from 3D-MRI. Significant
associations were found between left hippocampal volume
and the immediate, delayed, and percent retention scores
of the Logical Memory Test; between the left mammillary
body volume and the Logical Memory Test delayed and percent
retention scores; immediate Visual Reproduction performance
was significantly related to the right and left amygdala
volumes, and right mammillary body volume; only the right
amygdala and right mammillary body volume were associated
with the delayed Visual Reproduction trial. However, neither
right nor left hippocampal volumes were related to visual
memory performance. Multiple limbic system structural volumes
were independently associated with verbal and nonverbal
memory performance. Results suggest that visual memory,
as measured by the Visual Reproduction Test, may be uniquely
associated with extrahippocampal volumes in patients with
TLE. (JINS, 1999, 5, 540–548.)