Substance use: neuroanatomy of Korsakoff syndrome: practice question

A Psychiatry question in the style of the NEET PG paper. Answer it first, then read why the right option is right and why each of the others is wrong.

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Psychiatry · Substance use: neuroanatomy of Korsakoff syndrome

Sample item

A man with long-standing alcohol dependence has severe anterograde amnesia and confabulation. At autopsy, which structures are characteristically damaged?

Original practice item, not a recalled exam question. Nothing here is recorded.

The answer and the reasoning

D. Mamillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamic nucleus

Korsakoff syndrome follows thiamine deficiency and damages the diencephalic memory circuit, namely the mamillary bodies and the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus. Frontal dysfunction also contributes to confabulation and poor insight.

Option by option

  • A. Caudate nucleus and putamen

    The caudate and putamen are affected in Huntington disease, causing chorea.

  • B. Locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei

    The locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei are brainstem monoamine nuclei and are not the usual site of Korsakoff damage.

  • C. Hippocampal CA1 neurons and amygdala

    CA1 hippocampal neurons are vulnerable to hypoxia and are the classic site of damage in global anoxia.

  • D. Mamillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamic nucleus (correct)

    Correct. These diencephalic structures are the characteristic site of damage.

Source note: Original NextPrep sample item — pending expert review. This item is original practice material awaiting independent expert review, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.

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Questions about this Psychiatry question

What is the answer to this Psychiatry question?

The best answer is D, Mamillary bodies and dorsomedial thalamic nucleus. Korsakoff syndrome follows thiamine deficiency and damages the diencephalic memory circuit, namely the mamillary bodies and the dorsomedial nucleus of the thalamus.

Why is "Caudate nucleus and putamen" not the answer?

The caudate and putamen are affected in Huntington disease, causing chorea.

Why is "Locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei" not the answer?

The locus coeruleus and raphe nuclei are brainstem monoamine nuclei and are not the usual site of Korsakoff damage.

Why is "Hippocampal CA1 neurons and amygdala" not the answer?

CA1 hippocampal neurons are vulnerable to hypoxia and are the classic site of damage in global anoxia.

What concept does this question test?

It tests Substance use: neuroanatomy of Korsakoff syndrome in Psychiatry. Frontal dysfunction also contributes to confabulation and poor insight.

How hard is this question?

We tag it as an application question: it asks you to use a fact on a patient or a finding. The tag is our own editorial judgement, not an official difficulty rating, so read the reason for every option, not only the answer.

How should I study Substance use: neuroanatomy of Korsakoff syndrome?

Learn each diagnosis by its core features and its first-line treatment. Then use the flashcards and the other Psychiatry questions on this site to test what stuck.

Is this a real NEET PG question?

No. It is an original practice item (editorial status: sample, version 1). NextPrep does not publish recalled or leaked questions, and independent faculty review of this item has not been completed yet, so confirm important facts in a standard textbook.