Retrograde amnesia

This disorder exhibits marked impairment of autobiographical memory, a memory system that consists of episodes collected from an individual’s life, based on personal experiences and descriptive knowledge. It can be temporarily qualified or more permanent based on the severity of its cause and is generally consistent with Ribot’s Law: where subjects are more likely to lose memories closer to the traumatic incident than more remote memories. The type of information that is forgotten can be very specific, such as a single event, or more general, similar to generic amnesia. It should not be confused with anterograde amnesia, which deals with the inability to form new memories after the onset of injury or illness. Index • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • Types of retrograde amnesia This amnesia is usually the result of damage to brain regions most closely associated with episodic and declarative memory, including autobiographical information. In extreme cases, people can completely forget who they are. Generally, this is a more severe type of amnesia known as global or generalized amnesia. However, memory loss can also be selective or categorical, manifested by a person’s inability to recall events related to a specific incident or topic. 1. Gradually qualified retrograde amnesia In temporarily graduated retrograde amnesia, victims eventually regain most of their memories after the onset of RA. This suggests that hippocampal formation is only used in systematic consolidation f...

4 States of Consciousness • Introduction • 4.1 What Is Consciousness? • 4.2 Sleep and Why We Sleep • 4.3 Stages of Sleep • 4.4 Sleep Problems and Disorders • 4.5 Substance Use and Abuse • 4.6 Other States of Consciousness • Key Terms • Summary • Review Questions • Critical Thinking Questions • Personal Application Questions • 7 Thinking and Intelligence • Introduction • 7.1 What Is Cognition? • 7.2 Language • 7.3 Problem Solving • 7.4 What Are Intelligence and Creativity? • 7.5 Measures of Intelligence • 7.6 The Source of Intelligence • Key Terms • Summary • Review Questions • Critical Thinking Questions • Personal Application Questions • 11 Personality • Introduction • 11.1 What Is Personality? • 11.2 Freud and the Psychodynamic Perspective • 11.3 Neo-Freudians: Adler, Erikson, Jung, and Horney • 11.4 Learning Approaches • 11.5 Humanistic Approaches • 11.6 Biological Approaches • 11.7 Trait Theorists • 11.8 Cultural Understandings of Personality • 11.9 Personality Assessment • Key Terms • Summary • Review Questions • Critical Thinking Questions • Personal Application Questions • 12 Social Psychology • Introduction • 12.1 What Is Social Psychology? • 12.2 Self-presentation • 12.3 Attitudes and Persuasion • 12.4 Conformity, Compliance, and Obedience • 12.5 Prejudice and Discrimination • 12.6 Aggression • 12.7 Prosocial Behavior • Key Terms • Summary • Review Questions • Critical Thinking Questions • Personal Application Questions • 13 Industrial-Organizational Psychology • ...

Anterograde amnesia is when your brain can’t form new memories from what you’re experiencing right now. It’s common with age-related brain diseases, and can also happen due to brain injuries or damage. The outlook and whether or not it’s treatable depend on the cause and if it’s connected to severe or permanent brain damage. Overview What is anterograde amnesia? Anterograde amnesia is a type of memory loss that occurs when you can’t form new memories. In the most extreme cases, this means you permanently lose the ability to learn or retain any new information. On its own, this type of memory loss is rare. Anterograde amnesia is often temporary. This condition usually only lasts hours, and your memory frequently returns to normal afterward. What is the difference between anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia? In essence, anterograde amnesia and retrograde amnesia are two sides of the same coin. • Anterograde: This kind of memory loss means you can’t form new memories. This word partly comes from the Latin word “ante,” which means before. In this context, a person can’t store memories moving forward. • Retrograde: This kind of memory loss means you lose memories from your past. The word partly comes from the Latin word “retro,” which means backward. In this context, a person loses already-stored memories, so they experience memory loss looking backward. While these two types of memory loss can happen on their own, it’s also very common for them to happen at the same tim...

My novel The Equinox Stone features a hero who suffers from retrograde amnesia. Because I wanted to do a good job writing about amnesia, I did a lot of research on types of amnesia, symptoms, treatment, and causes (even though in my character’s case, the cause is not something that could ever happen in real life. I hope.) I hope it’ll all be useful if you’re figuring out how to write about amnesia. too. I absolutely love the amnesia romance trope, because memory loss (even short term memory loss) makes a character inherently vulnerable, raises interesting questions about identity, and causes drama and conflict as they figure out their situation or as their relationships with others are affected. I always like to share my writing research to save other writers time, so here are tips and helpful links for anyone writing an amnesiac character. If you’re writing a medically accurate story, this article is only a place to start. But if you’re working in a supernatural, paranormal, speculative, or fantasy vein, like me, this can give you details to make the imaginary feel more real. If amnesia plots interest you as a writer, be sure to bookmark this page or pin it on Pinterest for future reference! Retrograde Amnesia There are different types of amnesia, including anterograde amnesia, which prevents a person from forming new memories. Anterograde amnesia was depicted in the 2005 film Memento. In novels, TV shows, and movies, however, retrograde amnesia is the most popular. The p...

Amnesia is a form of memory loss. Some people with amnesia have difficulty forming new memories. Others can’t recall facts or past experiences. People with amnesia usually retain knowledge of their own identity in addition to their motor skills. Mild memory loss is a normal part of aging. Significant memory loss or the inability to form new memories may indicate the presence of an amnestic disorder. The primary symptom of amnesia is • difficulty recalling facts, events, places, or specific details (which can range from what you ate this morning to the name of the current president) • an impaired ability to learn new information • • • You’ll still retain your motor skills, such as your ability to walk, as well as fluency in any languages you speak. There are multiple types of amnesia, including the following: Retrograde amnesia When you have This type of amnesia tends to affect recently formed memories first. Older memories, such as memories from childhood, are usually affected more slowly. Conditions such as Anterograde amnesia When you have This effect can be temporary. For example, you can experience it during a It can also be permanent. You can experience it if the area of your brain known as the hippocampus is damaged. Your hippocampus plays an important role in forming memories. Transient global amnesia (TGA) Transient global amnesia (TGA) is a poorly understood condition. If you develop it, you’ll experience confusion or You may experience memory loss in the hours be...