[Clinical anatomical study of a case of amnesic encephalitis of herpetic origin (author's transl)].

A report on a case of herpes encephalitis in a patient of particularly high intellectual level who was kept under observation for a period of 13 years. Anatomical examination of the brain demonstrated massive bilateral destruction of the limbic system. Having studied the higher functions of this patient for many months it was possible to establish interesting correlations relating to the role of the limbic system. It appears to be indispensable for the utilization of verbal, praxognosic, and conceptual information. Though this is still retained in the intact neocortex, mobilization of the information is possible only when stimuli arise from the exterior and for as long as they last. Spontaneous evocation of this data is, in fact, impossible, as is the stocking of new information. The limbic system, therefore, while not being the site of retention of memorised informations which is the role of the neocortex, appears to be a logic system. Which is indispensable for proper functioning of the memory machine.