[Neuropsychological and behavioural impairments resulting from bilateral thalamic infarct]

The neuropsychological characteristics of a patient with a bilateral thalamic infarct in the posterior communicating artery territory due to basilar artery thrombosis are described. MRI examination showed bilateral thalamic acute ischemic lesions in the zone anterior to the tuberothalamic branches. In the cognitive exploration, the patient showed verbal and visual memory disorders, impairment of the executive functions including inability to generate and make decisions and behavioural disorders including lack of inhibition, euphoria, and occasional aggressiveness. Two months later the patient had improved in the neuropsychological test scores but still suffered from severe recent memory loss, and certain behavioural disorders including lack of inhibition and euphoria. Other cases on thalamic infarcts with cognitive and behavioural impairments due to disconnection of the front subcortical pathways have been described in the literature.