Damage to the mamillary bodies bilaterally, as seen in Wernicke's encephalopathy (thiamine deficiency), causes profound deficits in:

• A Procedural (implicit) memory
• B Semantic memory and language
• C Declarative (episodic) memory — anterograde amnesia ✓
• D Working memory and attention

Explanation

The mamillary bodies are a critical component of the Papez circuit (hippocampus → fornix → mamillary bodies → mamillothalamic tract → anterior thalamic nucleus → cingulate gyrus → hippocampus), which is essential for the formation of new episodic (declarative) memories. Bilateral damage causes anterograde amnesia (inability to form new memories) as seen in Korsakoff's psychosis after Wernicke's encephalopathy. Procedural memory is mediated by the basal ganglia and cerebellum and is typically preserved.

Reference: BD Chaurasia's Human Anatomy, 8th ed.

High-yield for: NEET PGINI-CETNExTFMGEUSMLEPLABMRCP

Written and medically reviewed by the StethoPrep medical team.