After suffering from a brain injury, you might find yourself dealing with surprising effects in the aftermath. For example, a traumatic brain injury (TBI) could alter your memory. Many victims suffer from some form of memory loss detrimental to the ease of daily life.
How can these injuries impact your memory? How long can the effects last?
How the brain processes memory
The Model Systems Knowledge Translation Center examines how brain damage can also damage memory. Different locations in the brain are responsible for different parts of memory storage and processing. Depending on the location of impact, you could suffer from short or long term memory loss or damage.
It is most common for sufferers to experience short term memory loss. First, these memories get stored for 15 to 30 seconds in the frontal lobe. The frontal lobe often absorbs initial impact in a head trauma case. As such, many victims cannot “remember” the events leading up to their injury. In reality, the brain does not store the information in the first place.
Damage to the medial temporal lobe
You may also struggle to form long term memories. This happens in the medial temporal lobe. When this area suffers damage, your brain cannot easily translate short term into long term memory for later storage. This can make you seem forgetful, because your brain cannot properly file and store memories you form.
Memory loss and damage may last anywhere from hours to years, depending on location and severity of the injury. You can help the healing process by listening to doctor’s recommendations. These therapies may cost you, though. This is why many victims in your situation seek financial compensation.
