Memory Disorders

Here we'll discuss the Memory Disorders and their types. We'll learn about 3 types of memories. We'll discuss Amnesia and the types of amnesia as well as the various other pathologies related to memory. Hope this will help you all

1. Memory disorders

2. T hree types of memory S ensory memory , is registered for each of the senses and its purpose is to facilitate the rapid processing of incoming stimuli. This is a first selective attention sieve that allows to sift out the relevant material from sensory memory for further processing and storage in short-term memory. Most sensory memory fades within a few seconds.

3. Three types of memory Short-term memory , also called working memory , allows to store of memories for much longer than the sensory memory. Approximately for 20’. Short-term memory aids the constant updating of one’s surroundings.

4. Long-term memory is responsible for encoding of information. Encoding is the process of placing information into what is believed to be a limitless memory reservoir. Placing (encoding) can be: A) intentional or specific . Here people memorize items voluntary, and B) general memory then items are memorized “between this and then”, unintentionally.

5. There are three main types of encoding: visual (most biased and inaccurate), acoustic (more accurate), semantic (most effective and accurate).

6. Long-term vs short-term memory Long-term memory is resilient to attack, unlike, which is sensitive to disorders of brain tissue such as Alzheimer’s disease (The holonomic brain theory, by t Karl and David Bohm)

7. Memory impairments Amnesia / æmˈniː.zi.ə / (loss of memory) Normal memory decay Organic Psychogenic Paramnesias (distortions of memory) Distortions of recall and Distortions of recognition.

8. Amnesias Amnesia is defined as partial or total inability to recall past experiences and events and its origin may be N ormal memory decay. Can occur if an item is not rehearsed the memory fades and thereafter cannot be retrieved or because of interference from related material (French - Spanish).

9. Amnesias Psychogenic amnesia Dissociative or “hysterical” amnesia is the sudden amnesia that occurs during periods of extreme trauma and can last for hours or even days. The amnesia will be for particular traumatic point (personal identity such as name, address and history as well as for personal events), the ability to perform complex behaviors is maintained. There is a discrepancy between the marked memory impairment and the preservation of personality and social skills

10. Amnesias Psychogenic amnesia Fugue or wandering state in which the subject travels to another town or country and is often found wandering and lost. Katathymic amnesia is the inability to recall specific painful memories, and is believed to occur due to the defence mechanism of repression

11. Amnesias Psychogenic amnesia Anxiety amnesia occurs when there is anxious preoccupation or poor concentration in disorders such as depressive illness or generalised anxiety. A mnesia in depressive disorder. In this case amnesia resemble dementia and is known as depressive pseudodementia . N.B. Amnesias in anxiety and depressive disorders are generally caused by impaired concentration and resolve once the underlying disorder is treated.

12. Organic amnesias Acute brain disease can cause: R etrograde amnesia , that embraces the events just before the injury (is usually no longer than a few minutes but may be longer); Anterograde amnesia is amnesia for events occurring after the injury. These occur most commonly: In Accidents or As a Blackouts witch are the periods of ANTEROGRADE AMNESIA experienced particularly by those who are alcohol dependent during and following bouts of drinking

13. Organic amnesias. Subacute brain disease Korsakoff’s syndrome The characteristic memory disorder is the amnestic state in which the patient is unable to r ecord current and recent events or register new memories. (anterograde amnesia) + (retrograde amnesia) memories from the remote past remain intact. E.g.: amnestic syndrome caused by thiamine deficiency in alcohol abuse, cerebrovascular disease, multiple sclerosis,, head injury and electroconvulsive treatment (ECT).

14. Organic amnesias Chronic brain disease Progressive amnesia this an amnesia extending over many years. Thus the memory for recent events is lost before that for the earlier events (from today to childhood and to birth). This was pointed out by Ribot and is known as Ribot’s law of memory regression.

15. Paramnesia (distortions of memory) is the falsification of memory by distortion and can be conveniently divided into D istortions of recall Cryptamnesia False memory Pseudologia fantastica Confabulation Munchausen’s syndrome D istortions of recognition . Hyperamnesia Déjà vu

16. False memory False memory is the recollection of an event (or events) that did not occur but which the individual subsequently strongly believes did take place F.g . a person who says they were in hospital following a cerebrovascular accident (CVA) when in fact they had no recollection of this and had been told by their family that it had happened

17. Cryptamnesia Cryptamnesia is described as the experience of remembering of information, images, stories as that they had happened with the person, but in deed he/her had read, heard or saw this information some were else (memories with the hidden source)   F.g . A person writes a witty passage and does not realize that they are quoting from some passage they have seen elsewhere rather than writing something original.

18. Confabulation Confabulation is the falsification of memory occurring in clear consciousness in association with organic pathology. It manifests itself as the filling-in of gaps in memory by imagined or untrue experiences that have no basis in fact. The embarrassed type in which the patient tries to fill in gaps in memory as a result of an awareness of a deficit The fantastic type in which the lacunae are filled in by details exceeding the need of the memory impairment such as descriptions of wild adventures.

19. Pseudologia fantastica Pseudologia fantastica or fluent plausible lying (pathological lying) is the term used, by convention, to describe the confabulation that occurs in those without organic brain pathology such as personality disorder of antisocial or hysterical type. F.g . The subject describes various major events and traumas or makes grandiose claims and these often present at a time of personal crisis, such as facing legal proceedings.

20. Munchausen’s syndrome Munchausen’s syndrome is a variant of pathological lying in which the individual presents to hospitals with bogus illnesses, complex medical histories and often multiple surgical scars. This may lead to repeated presentations to hospital over a prolonged period of time and both diagnosis and management can be very challenging in these cases.

21. Distortions of recognition Hyperamnesia or exaggerated registration, retention and recall. Flashbulb memories are those memories that are associated with intense emotion (9/11). Flashbacks are sudden intrusive memories that are associated with the cognitive and emotional experiences of a traumatic event such as an accident (post-traumatic stress disorder) Hypomanic hypermnesia

22. Distortions of recognition Déjà vu is not strictly a disturbance of memory, but a problem with the familiarity of places and events. It comprises the feeling of having experienced a current event in the past, although it has no basis in fact.