Fact 3. The Selective Nature of Memory Loss
Amnesia does not strip away all types of memories uniformly. There’s a selective nature to what’s forgotten, highlighting the different types of memory storage in our brains.
In anterograde amnesia, the predominant issue lies in encoding new explicit or declarative memories. These are memories we consciously recall, such as facts (semantic memory) or events (episodic memory). An individual with anterograde amnesia might struggle to remember what they had for breakfast or the name of a new acquaintance.
However, implicit or procedural memory, such as knowing how to ride a bike or play a musical instrument, is often preserved. This phenomenon showcases the different pathways for various types of memory in our brains. It suggests that while the formation of new declarative memories is hindered, procedural memories, which rely on different brain circuits, are not affected to the same extent.
Retrograde amnesia, much like anterograde, typically spares implicit or procedural memory. Despite forgetting their past, individuals can still perform skilled tasks they had learned previously. This aspect reinforces the idea that different types of memories are stored and retrieved using diverse mechanisms within the brain. (3)
