Related Experiment Video
Updated: May 11, 2026
10:59
Investigations on Alterations of Hippocampal Circuit Function Following Mild Traumatic Brain Injury
Published on: November 19, 2012
Influenza-associated global amnesia and hippocampal imaging abnormality
Jonathan Lopez1, Catherine Lomen-Hoerth, Gayle K Deutsch
1a Department of Neurology and Neurological Sciences , Stanford University School of Medicine , Stanford , CA , USA.
Neurocase
|May 24, 2013
Summary
Influenza A infection can rarely cause global amnesia during its acute phase. This case highlights a young man whose memory deficits resolved within weeks, with imaging showing temporary hippocampal abnormalities.
Area of Science:
- Neurology
- Infectious Diseases
- Neuroscience
Background:
- Influenza infections are typically associated with mild, self-limiting symptoms.
- Significant cognitive dysfunction during the acute phase of influenza is uncommon.
- Cerebral complications of influenza require further investigation.
Observation:
- A 24-year-old male presented with global amnesia during the acute phase of influenza A infection.
- The patient's cognitive deficits, specifically amnesia, were transient.
- Neurological imaging revealed temporary abnormalities in the bilateral hippocampi.
Findings:
- The case demonstrates a rare instance of global amnesia linked to acute influenza A.
- Diffusion and T2-weighted MRI sequences showed transient abnormalities in the hippocampi.
- Resolution of cognitive deficits occurred over several weeks.
Implications:
- This case expands the spectrum of known neurological complications of influenza.
- It suggests the hippocampus may be a vulnerable target during influenza infections.
- Further research into the mechanisms of influenza-related neurological dysfunction is warranted.
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...
01:19Role of Hippocampus in Memory
The hippocampus, a critical brain structure, plays an essential role in memory processing, particularly in the formation and retrieval of memory. This small, seahorse-shaped region is located within the medial temporal lobe, with one hippocampus in each brain hemisphere. Experimental studies involving lesions in the hippocampi of rats have demonstrated significant impairments in tasks such as object recognition and maze navigation, indicating the hippocampus involvement in both recognition and...
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...