Left tuberothalamic artery territory infarction: neuropsychological and MRI features

We examined a 29-year-old woman who had language disturbances and memory impairment after a left thalamic infarction. MRI showed injury that was limited to the tuberothalamic artery territory. Beside reduced voice volume and verbal memory trouble, she presented with aspontaneity, loss of psychic self-activation and affective drive. Considering thalamic lesions, this loss of psychic self-activation or 'athymhormie' was found in a left thalamic infarct and could not be considered as an exclusive characteristic of bithalamic infarctions. The disappearance of the neurobehavioral disturbances within 15 days after the onset of the troubles was associated with the decreasing of the mass lesion found by MRI.