ABSTRACT
In addition to the amnesia discussed in Chapter 16 there are other conditions that affect memory. These conditions are the focus of this chapter. Each of these is associated with some alteration of the typical pattern of neurological activity. Although most of these have a negative effect on memory, there are conditions that can lead to superior memory performance. The memory changes that are seen in these conditions are only part of a larger set of cognitive changes that are associated with each of them. This chapter first covers memory disorders that arise in various types of dementia that a person might be unfortunate enough to develop. These include conditions such as Alzheimer’s, Parkinson’s, and Huntington’s diseases, as well as multiple sclerosis. Following this, there is an overview of how a serious psychotic condition, like schizophrenia, can have a profound and negative impact on memory. Other, milder psychological conditions, such as anxiety and depression, can also disrupt normal memory function. Also, a number of specific memory losses that occur with more localized and limited forms of brain damage are examined. Following this, perhaps closer to your own experience, the chapter discusses how the effects of drugs and alcohol can impair memory in some ways and help it in others. The chapter wraps up with a discussion of how the condition of synesthesia can sometimes improve memory.
