Related Experiment Video
Updated: Mar 7, 2026

Olfactory Context Dependent Memory: Direct Presentation of Odorants
Published on: September 18, 2018
Characteristics of retrograde amnesia for CS preexposure
James F Briggs1, Brian P Olson2
1Department of Psychology, Susquehanna University, Selinsgrove, PA, 17870, USA. briggsj@susqu.edu.
Abstract:
Two experiments using rats evaluated the susceptibility of CS preexposure to retrograde amnesia induced by the protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide and tested whether amnesia for CS preexposure shares similar characteristics with amnesia for other memories. In Experiment 1, rats received cycloheximide either immediately, 60 minutes, or 120 minutes after preexposure. Following preexposure, rats received fear conditioning. When later tested, the subjects that received the amnestic treatment shortly after preexposure showed no CS preexposure effect (i.e., no reduction of fear). The amnesia for CS preexposure was attenuated with longer post-preexposure delays, showing a temporal gradient. In Experiment 2, following the replication of amnesia for CS preexposure, the amnestic treatment was readministered to the rats prior to testing. It was demonstrated that the amnestic-preexposure memory could be recovered (i.e., readministration of the drug alleviated the amnesia for CS preexposure). These two experiments show that memories for CS preexposure are susceptible to retrograde amnesia and share similar characteristics with memories for original acquisition and extinction. The results are explained using a retrieval hypothesis of retrograde amnesia.
More Related Videos
Related Concept Videos
Amnesia
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...
Higher Mental Functions of Brain: Learning and Memory
Repressed Memory
Implicit Memories
One key aspect of implicit...
Interference and Decay
Interference occurs when competing memories hinder the retrieval of particular information. It can be classified into two types: proactive and retroactive interference. Proactive...
Traumatic Memory

