The neurobiology aspect of Memento.

1. Memento the Movie
How it relates to Neurobiology

2. The trailer
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https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0vS0E9bBSL0

3. The plot
Memento is a movie about a guy “Leonard”
who has amnesia - he can not make new
memories. He lives by little notes and tattoos
he leaves for himself. I won’t spoil the movie -
it’s a great movie so check it out if you haven’t
seen it!

4. What does it have to do
with nervous system?
Apparently, Leonard is having problem with
his memory system. He has a fine working
memory but has problems consolidating
working memory into long term memory for
storage in the neocortex.

5. How does memory work?
There are three types of memory: working
memory, declarative (explicit) memory and
implicit memory.
Working memory lasts max 30 second and is
about “here and now”.
Explicit memory includes facts and events.
Implicit memory includes skills and habits.

6. How do we make
memories?
In the HM case we learned that hippocampus
is critical for memory formation - consolidating
working memory to explicit memory.

7. So what went wrong?
It is very likely that Leonard’s hippocampus
was damaged when he hit his head.

8. Is the movie realistic?
According to Wikipedia, “many medical
experts have cited Memento as one of the
most realistic and accurate depictions of
anterograde amnesia in any movie picture”.
Certainly better than “Spellbound” mentioned
in the lecture!

9. How does this relate to
the course?
This course allows me to look at the movie
from a new angle and rethink some of the
stories in the movie.
Before attending the course, the case of
Leonard is nothing more than a hypothetical or
“imaginary” case. Now I not only know that this
condition truly exists but also how it occurs. It
also makes me more sympathetic with the
patient.

10. How does this relate to
the course?
It also makes me wonder: what kind of person
will I become if I suffer from memory loss? As
working memory can only last no longer than
30 seconds, so the patient is constantly living
in the “30 second window) - every 30 seconds
he needs to figure out what he is doing. What
an impossible life!