Your book explains that brief episodes of retrograde amnesia (e.g., the traumatic disruption of newly formed memories when a football player takes a hit to the head and can't recall the last play before the hit) reflect
A) a failure of memory consolidation.
B) disrupted long-term potentiation.
C) temporary post-traumatic stress disorder.
D) Korsakoff's syndrome.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Brief episodes of retrograde amnesia, such as the one described in the question, are usually caused by a disruption in the consolidation of memories. This means that the traumatic event interferes with the brain's ability to store new information into long-term memory. Disrupted long-term potentiation, choice B, is a mechanism by which memories are formed, but it is not specifically related to retrograde amnesia. Post-traumatic stress disorder, choice C, is a separate condition characterized by flashbacks and other symptoms that can occur after a traumatic event, but it is not the same as retrograde amnesia. Korsakoff's syndrome, choice D, is a type of amnesia caused by alcohol abuse and is also not the correct answer.

Your Book Explains That Brief Episodes of Retrograde Amnesia (E