Neuroimaging of the fornix: present and future

The fornix is a major white matter tract that is critical for normal memory. Structural magnetic resonance imaging has been employed as a tool for investigating fornix integrity since 1988, when it was first used to link fornix damage to changes in cognition. However, there are still relatively few reports of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) studies of the fornix, with even fewer studies attempting to provide volumetric estimates of the structure. The fornix is anatomically complex in nature, with its curvature proving a challenge for volumetric analysis. Successful qualitative, and in some cases, quantitative MRI studies examining the integrity of the fornix have been performed in the following patient groups; temporal lobe epilepsy, colloid cyst, schizophrenia, and traumatic brain injury. This review details the current fornix neuroimaging literature, including the anatomy and quantitative methodology used to acquire volume estimates. We also explore new developments in MRI methodology, which will shape the future of fornix neuroimaging