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Dense amnesia in a professional musician following Herpes simplex virus encephalitis
Authors:
Wilson, B.A., Baddeley, A.D. & Kapur, N.
Reference:
Journal of Clinical and Experimental Neuropsychology, 17(5), 668-681
Year of publication:
1995
CBU number:
3367
Abstract:
We describe the memory functioning of a professional musician who became amnesic following herpes simplex virus encephalitis in 1985. Although transient amnesia in a professional musician has previously been describe, this is the first reported case of chronic amnesia in a highly talented professional musician. The man in unusual in three respects. First, his amnesia is particularly severe. Second, his amnesia includes semantic as well as episodic memory deficits. Third, he believes he has just woken up and his preoccupation with this state of "just awakening" has persisted for over 9 years. This appears to be the result of the delusion rather than the consequences of his amnesia.
