QUESTION 32
Elaine wakes up in the hospital with a head injury. She gets to know her doctors and nurses over time, but it soon becomes clear that she has no memories from before she woke up in the hospital. Elaine has amnesia. anterograde
flashbulb
graduated
retrograde
The correct answer and explanation is:
Correct Answer: Retrograde
Explanation:
Retrograde amnesia refers to a condition where a person loses memories of events or experiences that occurred before the onset of amnesia. It is typically caused by brain injuries, diseases, or trauma. In Elaine’s case, she wakes up in the hospital after a head injury and cannot recall any memories from before the incident. This inability to access past memories is a hallmark characteristic of retrograde amnesia.
Retrograde amnesia often affects episodic memories (personal experiences tied to specific times and places) and may spare procedural memories (skills or tasks learned previously, such as riding a bike). The severity of memory loss can vary depending on the extent and location of the brain injury. In many cases, memories closer to the time of the injury are more likely to be lost, while older, more consolidated memories may remain intact.
To understand why this occurs, it is essential to consider the role of the brain structures involved in memory. The hippocampus, located in the medial temporal lobe, is critical for the consolidation of new memories. Damage to the hippocampus or surrounding regions can impair this process and disrupt the retrieval of existing memories. Additionally, retrograde amnesia can result from damage to other areas of the brain, such as the frontal lobes, which play a role in organizing and retrieving stored memories.
Retrograde amnesia differs from anterograde amnesia, which is the inability to form new memories after an injury. It also differs from other terms like “flashbulb memories,” which describe vivid, detailed memories of emotionally significant events, and “graduated amnesia,” which is not a recognized psychological term. Elaine’s condition specifically aligns with retrograde amnesia because her past memories are inaccessible while she is still capable of interacting with her present environment.