Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 21, 2026
11:01
Examining the Characteristics of Episodic Memory using Event-related Potentials in Patients with Alzheimer's Disease
Published on: August 30, 2011
Anterograde episodic memory in Korsakoff syndrome
Rosemary Fama1, Anne-Lise Pitel, Edith V Sullivan
1Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences, Stanford University School of Medicine (MC5723), 401 Quarry Road, Stanford, CA 94305-5723, USA. rfama@stanford.edu
Neuropsychology Review
|May 31, 2012
Summary
Korsakoff syndrome, caused by thiamine deficiency, causes severe anterograde amnesia. Research explores its history, theories, and brain correlates, revealing memory is not a single function.
Area of Science:
- Neuroscience
- Neuropsychology
- Neurology
Background:
- Korsakoff syndrome (KS) is characterized by profound anterograde amnesia.
- This condition stems from severe thiamine (vitamin B1) deficiency and was first described in the late 19th century.
- Global amnesia in KS has been a central focus in neuroscience and neuropsychology.
Purpose of the Study:
- To review historical studies on anterograde episodic memory in KS.
- To present a timeline and evidence for various theories explaining KS memory dysfunction.
- To summarize neuroanatomical correlates and neural systems implicated in KS.
Main Methods:
- Historical literature review.
- Analysis of theories on memory dysfunction.
- Synthesis of neuroanatomical and neural system findings.
Main Results:
- Studies on KS and other amnesias highlight distinct mnemonic processes and neural networks.
- Evidence suggests specific neural systems are crucial for declarative and nondeclarative memory.
- Certain mnemonic processes are spared in KS, indicating memory is not a unitary function.
Conclusions:
- The study of KS contributes to understanding the complexity of memory functions.
- Ongoing debate exists regarding the differences between KS and other amnesias.
- Identifying necessary and sufficient brain regions and pathways for KS amnesia remains a key research question.
Related Concept Videos
01:13Amnesia
Amnesia is a condition marked by long-term memory loss, which impairs the ability to recall past events or create new memories.
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
The severity and duration of memory loss vary depending on the type and underlying cause. Amnesia is classified into two main types: retrograde and anterograde.
Retrograde amnesia is marked by the loss of memories formed before the onset of the condition. Patients may recall distant past events but often forget those occurring shortly before the incident.
Anterograde...
01:26Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
Memory is one of the most vital higher mental functions of the brain. Memory is closely related to learning because it enables us to retain information and experiences from our past to use them in our present life. It also helps us to remember facts, events, and skills, such as riding a bike or swimming. There are two types of memory — declarative memory, which involves memorizing facts or events, and procedural memory, which enables us to remember how to do something like writing or playing an...
01:21Dissociative Amnesia
Dissociative amnesia is a complex psychological condition that manifests as an inability to recall personal information, often tied to traumatic or stressful events. Unlike general amnesia, individuals with this condition retain the ability to perform routine activities and procedural tasks, such as operating a phone or navigating public transportation, yet experience profound gaps in autobiographical memory. These lapses may encompass significant life events, such as suicide attempts or...
01:16Interference and Decay
Forgetting is a complex cognitive phenomenon influenced by several factors, among which interference and decay are particularly prominent. These processes explain why individuals often struggle to retrieve specific information from memory, leading to lapses in recall that can be observed in everyday situations.
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
01:03Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
Calcium Ion Concentration Mechanism
If over time, all...
01:05Long-term Depression
Long-term depression, or LTD, is one of the ways by which synaptic plasticity—changes in the strength of chemical synapses—can occur in the brain. LTD is the process of synaptic weakening that occurs over time between pre and postsynaptic neuronal connections. The synaptic weakening of LTD works in opposition to synaptic strengthening by long-term potentiation (LTP) and together are the main mechanisms that underlie learning and memory.