Fornix (brain)

The fornix is a prominent C-shaped bundle of myelinated nerve fibers in the brain that serves as the primary output tract of the hippocampus, relaying connections between the hippocampus and subcortical structures of the limbic system, including the mammillary bodies, septal nuclei, and anterior nuclei of the thalamus[1][2][3][4][5][6]. It is critical for memory encoding and retrieval, especially recall memory. Fornix degeneration or disruption is associated with memory impairment and is an early imaging biomarker for cognitive decline and Alzheimer’s disease[4]. The fornix is not a molecular therapeutic target such as a receptor, transporter, or enzyme, but rather a white matter tract essential for neural communication within the limbic system.

Other names

FornixFornix of the brainCommissure of fornixHippocampal commissurePsalteriumLyra Davidis