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Amnesia: Encyclopedia of Mental Disorders |
 | | There are numerous causes of amnesia, including stroke, injury to the brain, surgery, alcoholism, encephalitis (inflammation of the brain), and electroconvulsive therapy (ECT, a treatment for various mental disorders in which electricity is sent to the brain through electrodes). |
 | | Contrary to the popular notion of amnesia-in which a person suffers a severe blow to the head, for example, and cannot recall his or her past life and experiences-the principal symptom of amnesia is the inability to retain new information, beginning at the point at which the amnesia began. |
 | | Amnesia is not always obvious to the casual observer-motor skills such as tying shoelaces and bike riding are retained, as is the ability to read and comprehend the meaning of words. |
| health.enotes.com /mental-disorders-encyclopedia/amnesia (358 words) |
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