Retrograde Amnesia

Question 1

What is retrograde amnesia?

Answer 1

A deficit in remembering information acquired pre-morbidly to varying extents.

Question 2

What is the memory process?

Answer 2

Encoding > Consolidation > Retrieval.

Question 3

Who studied consolidation interference in 2004?

Answer 3

Cowan et al.

Question 4

Who studied consolidation interference in 2010?

Answer 4

Dewar et al.

Question 5

What memory process is most likely to have a deficit regarding amnesia?

Answer 5

Consolidation.

Question 6

In what year did Cowan et al study consolidation interference?

Answer 6

2004.

Question 7

In what year did Dewar et al study consolidation interference?

Answer 7

2010.

Question 8

Regarding the consolidation interference studies in 2004 and 2010, what input allows for better memory consolidation?

Answer 8

Minimal sensory input.

Question 9

Regarding the consolidation interference studies in 2004 and 2010, minimal sensory input allows for what?

Answer 9

Better memory consolidation.

Question 10

Regarding the consolidation interference studies in 2004 and 2010, high interference with consolidation can substantially contribute to __________.

Answer 10

Anterograde amnesia.

Question 11

Regarding the consolidation interference studies in 2004 and 2010, ______________________ can substantially contribute to anterograde amnesia.

Answer 11

High interference with consolidation.

Question 12

Regarding the consolidation interference studies in 2004 and 2010, _______________ reduced substantially when sensory input is minimized immediately after learning.

Answer 12

Anterograde amnesia.

Question 13

Regarding the consolidation interference studies in 2004 and 2010, anterograde amnesia is reduced substantially when ________________ is __________ immediately after learning.

Answer 13

Sensory input is minimized.

Question 14

Discuss the “Filled delay” results regarding the 2004 and 2010 consolidation interference study.

Answer 14

Patient told a story. Listened to music. Asked if they remember anything from the story. 0% retention.

Question 15

Discuss the “Unfilled delay” results regarding the 2004 and 2010 consolidation interference study.

Answer 15

Patient told a story. Rested. Asked if they remember anything from the story. 70% retention.

Question 16

What did Ribot say in 1882 regarding retrograde amnesia?

Answer 16

Retrograde amnesia is often more severe for recent than distant memories.

Question 17

Who said “Retrograde amnesia is often more severe for recent than distant memories.” and in what year?

Answer 17

Ribot in 1882.

Question 18

What is the temporal gradient of retrograde amnesia?

Answer 18

There is a time gradient in retrograde amnesia, so that recent memories are more likely to be lost than the more remote memories.

Question 19

Who created the temporal gradient of retrograde amnesia and in what year?

Answer 19

Ribot in 1882.

Question 20

Patient HM had partial _______ amnesia.

Answer 20

Retrograde.

Question 21

What events were affected by Patient HM’s partial retrograde amnesia?

Answer 21

Could not remember the death of favorite uncle 3 years previously nor anything about his time in hospital.

Question 22

What was the temporal gradient for Patient HM during early observation? What was the actual temporal gradient under formal testing?

Answer 22

3 years. 11 years.

Question 23

Patient HM’s retrograde amnesia was tested using the Crovitz technique - what is this?

Answer 23

HM was presented with 10 nouns (cues), asked to describe an event from his life relating to each noun and then asked to date and place each memory. E.g: “River” - we went fishing in Summer of 2010 in Scotland. Scored on a 3 point scale.

Question 24

What are some flaws with the Crocvitz technique?

Answer 24

How could you check the accuracy? What is the evidence of the events? How many people can accuracy date and time each life event? Maybe genuinely had no memories at a river but was interpreted as he had forgotten.

Question 25

What methodology did Kopelman et al create in 1989?

Answer 25

Autobiographical Memory Interview.

Question 26

Who created the Autobiographical Memory Interview and in what year?

Answer 26

Kopelman et al, 1989.

Question 27

What are the 3 age 'groups' in the Autobiographical Memory Interview by Kopelman et al, 1989?

Answer 27

Childhood, early adulthood and recent times (within the past year).

Question 28

What two types of questions are asked in the Autobiographical Memory Interview by Kopelman et al, 1989? Give an example.

Answer 28

Personal semantic (what was the name of your first school?) and autobiographical (tell me something that happened to you while you were at school).

Question 29

When Patient CW took the Autobiographical Memory Interview by Kopelman et al, 1989, what were his results over the 3 age groups of recent, early adulthood and childhood?

Answer 29

Impaired but scored better the younger the age group.

Question 30

What are two theories of what causes retrograde amnesia?

Answer 30

Standard Consolidation Theory and the Multiple Trace Theory.

Question 31

What is the Standard Consolidation Theory?

Answer 31

Argues that extensive retrograde amnesia is due to damage to structures outwith the hippocampus. That consolidation is a very long process (which could take years to decades) which relates to the temporal gradient being more severe for recent memories than distant.

Question 32

What is the Multiple Trace Theory?

Answer 32

Argues that some memories can become semanticized via frequent retrieval and repetition so become independent from the hippocampus. Truly episodic memories are always dependent on hippocampus.

Question 33

What is psychogenic amnesia?

Answer 33

Psychogenic amnesia is a memory disorder characterized by sudden retrograde episodic memory loss, said to occur for a period of time ranging from hours to years.

Question 34

What are causes of psychogenic amnesia?

Answer 34

It has been linked to overwhelming stress, which may be caused by traumatic events such as war, abuse, accidents, or disasters. The person may have suffered the trauma or just witnessed it.

Question 35

What happens in psychogenic focal retrograde amnesia?

Answer 35

Sudden loss of memory including autobiographical amensia, no loss of personal identity and no wandering and structural imaging of brain is normal.

Question 36

What happens in fugue transient psychogenic amnesia?

Answer 36

Usually period of wandering, unconcerned ('la belle indifference'), sudden loss of memory including autobiographical memory and a sense of personal identity.

Question 37

What are the 3 kinds of organic transient amnesias?

Answer 37

Post-Traumatic Amnesia, PTA. Transient Global Amnesia, TGA. Transient Epileptic Amnesia, TEA.

Question 38

Describe post-traumatic amnesia (PTA).

Answer 38

``` Any age. Variable duration (minutes to months). No loss of identity. Anterograde amnesia and some retrograde. Caused by head injuries (e.g.: concussion). ```

Question 39

Discuss transient global amnesia (TGA)

Answer 39

50years+ 4 - 6 hours. Anterograde and varying levels of retrograde. No loss of identity. Repetitive questioning. Caused by physical and psychological stresses. Includes headaches and nausea. Post onset: subtle impairment may persist but no permanent deficit.

Question 40

Discuss transient epileptic amnesia (TEA)

Answer 40

50years+ 1 hour. Variable mix of anterograde and retrograde amnesia but may later remember attack. Sometimes repetitive questioning. No loss of identity. Causes: Epileptic-related and waking. Post - accelerated long-term forgetting and autobiographical memory loss.