is it true that people who suffer from anterograde amnesia will recall past memories but not be able to make new ones?? or they lost the past and unable to make new memories??
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Anterograde_amnesia
Anterograde amnesia is the loss of the ability to create new memories along with an inability to recall the very recent past.
Yes, it is true that people who suffer from anterograde amnesia have difficulty forming new memories while being able to recall past memories. Anterograde amnesia is a type of memory impairment that affects a person's ability to create new memories after the onset of the condition.
To understand this better, let's break down the process of memory formation:
1. Encoding: This is the process of acquiring and processing new information to be stored in the memory.
2. Consolidation: Once information is encoded, it goes through a consolidation process where it becomes more stable and long-term.
3. Retrieval: This is the process of accessing stored information from memory when needed.
In the case of anterograde amnesia, the impairment typically affects the encoding and consolidation stages of memory formation. This means that while individuals with this condition can still recall memories from before the onset of amnesia (retrograde memory), they struggle to encode and consolidate new experiences and information into long-term memory.
The exact causes of anterograde amnesia can vary, but it is often associated with damage to certain areas of the brain, such as the hippocampus, which plays a vital role in memory formation.
It is important to note that anterograde amnesia does not necessarily result in a complete loss of past memories. Typically, only the ability to form new memories is affected, while existing memories remain intact. However, in some cases, there may be a partial loss of retrograde memories depending on the extent and location of the brain damage.
To confirm a diagnosis of anterograde amnesia, a professional evaluation by a healthcare provider, typically a neuropsychologist or neurologist, is required. Diagnostic tests, such as brain imaging scans and memory assessments, may be conducted to evaluate memory function and identify the specific type and extent of memory impairment.