Interestingly, this may explain why victims of abuse and military combat survivors sometimes experience amnesia. Research on the hippocampus has found that exposure to prolonged periods of stress can affect the structure itself, causing hippocampus to shrink. Some of the major areas of the brain that are in charge of memory include:Īn injury to one of these areas doesn’t necessarily happen directly. Several brain regions are involved in the processes of memory and new learning, and damage to any of these areas can cause amnesia. Post-traumatic amnesia most often appears after a person emerges from a coma. When amnesia occurs after a concussion or brain injury, it is known as post-traumatic amnesia. In other words, the person has no memory of: (1) where they are, (2) how they got there, and (3) any new memories since the injury.

It can also include confusion regarding place, time, and person. Causes of Amnesia After Head InjuryĪmnesia is the inability to form new memories or recall old ones. Today you will learn the causes and symptoms of amnesiaĪfter head injury plus how you can support your loved one during this time. While it is a normal part of recovery from a traumatic brain injury (TBI), it can still be hard for friends and family to see a loved one go through it. Amnesia is one of the many secondary effects of head injury that a person can experience.