Understanding Amnesia: Types, Causes, and Memory Effects

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to form new memories post-event.

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memories from before an event.

Episodic Memory

Memory of personal experiences and events.

Semantic Memory

Memory of facts and general knowledge.

Cognitive Perspective

Focus on cognitive deficits in amnesia.

Biological Localization

Identifying brain areas related to memory.

Alzheimer's Disease

Common cause of amnesia with dementia symptoms.

Korsakoff Syndrome

Amnesia from chronic alcoholism, memory impairment.

Herpes Simplex Encephalitis

Rare virus causing severe amnesia.

Temporal Lobe Surgery

Surgical procedure leading to memory loss.

H.M. (Henry Molaison)

Patient with profound memory problems post-surgery.

Hippocampus

Brain region crucial for memory formation.

Short-term Memory

Temporary storage of information for immediate use.

Procedural Memory

Memory for skills and tasks, like drawing.

Implicit Memory

Influence of past experiences without awareness.

Free Recall

Retrieving information without cues or prompts.

Recognition Task

Identifying previously learned information from options.

Recollection

Active retrieval of specific details from memory.

Familiarity

Sense of knowing without specific details.

Claparède's Handshake

Example of implicit memory in amnesia.

Degraded Pictures/Words

Improved recognition of previously seen stimuli.

Graf et al. (1984) Study

Demonstrated explicit vs implicit memory performance.

Doors and People Test

Memory test assessing recollection and familiarity.

Developmental Amnesia

Memory impairment from early life, often due to anoxia.

Anoxia

Lack of oxygen affecting brain function, especially hippocampus.

Hippocampus

Brain region crucial for memory formation and recall.

Recollection

Recall of specific details from past experiences.

Familiarity

Sense of knowing without recalling specific details.

Remember/Know Paradigm

Distinction between recollection and familiarity in memory.

ERP Study

Event-related potential study measuring brain response to stimuli.

Hypoxia

Condition of insufficient oxygen supply to tissues.

Hippocampal Atrophy

Shrinkage of hippocampus, often linked to memory deficits.

Dual-Process Model

Theory distinguishing between recollection and familiarity processes.

Retrograde Amnesia

Loss of memories formed before onset of amnesia.

Probe Method

Technique for recalling memories by prompting with cues.

Autobiographical Memory Interview (AMI)

Assessment tool for recalling personal memories over time.

Ribot's Law

Older memories are easier to recall than recent ones.

Temporal Gradient

Variation in memory recall ability based on time of event.

Standard Consolidation Model

Theory explaining memory transfer between brain regions.

Perirhinal Cortex

Brain area associated with familiarity in memory processing.

Parahippocampal Cortex

Region involved in context and spatial memory.

Neocortical Input

Information processed by the neocortex, influencing memory.

Memory Strength Criterion

Judgment based on how strong a memory feels.

Memory Encoding

Process of transforming information into a memory trace.

Memory Retrieval 1

Accessing stored information from memory.

Ribot's Law

Early memories don't require hippocampus for retrieval.

Reactivation

Hippocampus replays neural activity for memory consolidation.

Cortical Connections

Connections between cortical areas strengthen over time.

Multiple Trace Hypothesis

Detailed episodic memory requires hippocampal-neocortical trace.

Semantic Memory

Knowledge of facts and vocabulary independent of episodic memory.

Episodic Memory 2

Memory of personal experiences and specific events.

Trace Transformation Theory

Memory traces evolve from hippocampal to neocortical connections.

Neocortex

Brain region involved in storing long-term memories.

Hippocampus

Brain structure critical for forming new memories.

Memory Retrieval 2

Process of recalling stored information from memory.

Semanticization

Older memories become more factual and less personal.

Developmental Amnesia

Preserved semantic knowledge with impaired episodic memory.

MTL Damage

Damage to medial temporal lobe affects memory acquisition.

Lexical Knowledge

Knowledge of words and their meanings.

Amnesic Patients

Individuals with memory deficits due to brain damage.

Cognitive Impairments

Other mental deficits complicating memory assessment.

Procedural Memory 2

Memory for skills and tasks performed automatically.

Implicit Memory

Unconscious memory influencing behavior without awareness.

Standardized Score

Metric used to compare performance across individuals.

Acquisition of New Knowledge

Learning new information after memory impairment.

Repetition in Learning

Need for repeated exposure to retain new information.

H.M. Case Study

Famous amnesic patient illustrating memory theories.

Neural Activity Replay

Hippocampus reactivates patterns for memory consolidation.