Which memory refers to the ability to remember information before a brain injury?

• A. Anterograde memory
• B. Semantic memory
• C. Retrograde memory
• D. Working memory

Answer: (C)

Retrograde memory is about memories formed before a brain injury. This type of memory can be disrupted in retrograde amnesia, where a person loses pre-injury experiences and knowledge. The key idea is timing relative to the injury: memories from before the event are affected, while the ability to form new memories after the injury (anterograde memory) can remain intact. Working memory, by contrast, involves holding and manipulating information in the moment, and semantic memory refers to general world knowledge not tied to personal experience. In retrograde amnesia, the loss is typically for pre-injury events, and the extent can vary, with more recent pre-injury memories often more susceptible than distant ones.