Novel cognitive insights from the first year after bi-thalamic infarct

Neuropsychological consequences of bi-thalamic damage are scarcely known. This case study documents cognitive (in particular memory and executive) functioning in a man with a medial bi-thalamic infarct in the first year (8 and 12 months) post injury. NG showed persistent memory (including autobiographical) impairment, but improved executive functions at one year post injury. On a response inhibition task his speed of response improved but his ability to inhibit a “prepotent” automatic response declined, corresponding to an increase in behavioral disinhibition. Despite this, he showed intact performances on several social cognition tasks. This case contributes to our understanding of the role of the thalamus in mediating retrograde memory, executive, and social cognition functions.