Anterograde Amnesia

People who struggle with amnesia have severe deficits in their declarative memory which consist of semantic memory and episodic memory. Although there are different classifications of amnesia, the main two are retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia. Anterograde amnesia is the more common of the two.  A person diagnosed with anterograde amnesia has the inability to form new long-term memories beginning with the onset of the disorder. In other words, new information is not transferred to the long –term memory.  

Anterograde amnesia can be caused by traumatic brain injury from a concussion or brain surgery where the hippocampus, the basal forebrain, or medial temporal lobe is damaged. In addition, amnesia can be drug-induced such as the use of benzodiazepines, caused by heart attacks, oxygen deprivation, epileptic attacks, and also emotional disorders.    

In normal memory storage, the hippocampus, mammillary bodies, and the dorsal thalamus form a network of connections with the cortex of the brain, where long –term information is stored. Although the individual has no problem processing the information normally, the information never makes it to the cortex because the connection between the hippocampus and cortex is disrupted as a result of damage from brain injury or indigestion of toxic chemicals.

Individuals with anterograde amnesia like the famous patient H.M. are unable to form declarative memories that require recollection or recognition but are able to form non-declarative memories that do not require recollection or recognition. Non-declarative memory includes skill learning, priming, and conditioning through performances on cognitive tasks.

Helpful Links:

1. The Newsletter of the Memory Disorders Project at Rutgers University:

Provides basic information about anterograde amnesia and gives some insight to new research indicating that while new facts or events may not be recalled, the amnesiac may still be able to learn new skills and habits over time.

2. Laurel’s Story – Memories Lost and Found:

A brief case study describing what life as an anterograde amnesiac is like for Laurel, a 47 year old female who has to use a device to remind her of things as simple as taking her medicines. 

3. Finding Nemo

In Finding Nemo, a main character Dory has short term memory loss.  This is one of the most accurate representations of amnesia in the movies, found in a children's film!

4.Recovery of Anterograde Amnesia in a Case of Craniopharyngioma:

The case of a 53 year old woman who suffered from anterograde amnesia until she had a brain tumor removed.  Brain maps included!

5. Anterograde Amnesia – Clive Wearing

Clive is said to have the worst case of amnesia ever known.  The only person he recognizes is his wife, and his short term memory lasts only seconds.

6.Simply Psychology – Anterograde Amnesia

A brief overview of one of psychology's most famous patients, H.M and an introduction to alcohol induced anterograde amnesia, also known as Korsakoff's Syndrome.

7.The Korsakoff Syndrome

What is Korsakoff Syndrome? How does it develop?  What kind of strategies are being developed to treat it?  Find out here!

8.Eric Kandel - Mapping Memory in the Brain

This is a lecture-style video, describing the functions of the brain, which parts are responsible for memory, and how they work together.  

9.Lessons from H.M.

Why H.M was so influential to psychology research and how he is still helping us today, even after his death in 2008.  More evidence to support that anterograde amnesiacs may be able to learn new skills and habits. 

10.Understanding Anterograde Amnesia

This site gives some general information about anterograde amnesia, but focuses on the difficulties it causes in everyday life.  

11.Anterograde Amnesia -Memory Disorder

This site provides useful information about memory disorders such as anterograde amnesia. Topics include the a general definition, causes, brain structures/functions, and cognitive abilities. 

12. A Neuroanatomical and Neuropsychological Profile of Patient E.P..pdf

Researchers study E.P., a patient with a rare case of anterograde amnesia using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and assess his cognitive abilities through neuropsychological test. In addition, they compare and contrast the data for E.P. with the data from patient H.M.   

13. Anterograde Amnesia vs Retrograde Amnesia

This short clip is about Andrew Scott, a man that experienced both retrograde amnesia and anterograde amnesia. He briefly describes his symptoms and distinguishes the difference between the two amnesia.

14. Henry Malaison

Henry Maliason  previously suffered from epileptic attacks. Doctors removed pieces of his brain and as a result, he suffers from anterograde amnesia. Doctors believe that Malaison and others like him, served to revolutionize the understanding of how memory works and other mysteries of the brain.

15. Benzodiazepine.pdf

This article describes the side effects of the use of benzodiazepine for treatment especially its contribution to anterograde amnesia.

16. Human Herpesvirus-6 and Anterograde Amnesia

People who have received a allogeneic hematopoietic  stem -cell transplant has lead to unexplained seizures, anterograde amnesia, and change in mental status 

17. Treatment

This provides some descriptions of treatments that can received for individuals that suffer from anterograde amnesia

18. Blood Sugar Levels and Hippocampus

This study suggest that the blood sugar levels can affect the hippocampus. Thus, affected memory.

19. Recovery for Anterograde Amnesia  

This article talks about recovery of a patient that had a brain tumor removed. After removal, the patient was able to fully recover from anterograde amnesia.

This page was created by Krissie Campbell.

**This page has been edited by Courtney Hill  

It is my understanding that all images, links, and video are public material. 

If there is a problem email: krissielcampbell@gmail.com; Courtney.Denise.Hill@live.mercer.edu