Which type of amnesia affects the ability to form new memories after a specific event?

Anterograde amnesia is characterized by the inability to form new memories following a specific event, typically due to damage to the hippocampus or related brain regions involved in memory formation. Individuals with this condition can recall events that occurred before the onset of amnesia but struggle to create new long-term memories afterwards. This form of amnesia is commonly associated with cases such as those resulting from traumatic brain injuries, certain medical conditions, or the effects of substances like alcohol.

While anticipatory, proactive, and retroactive options relate to different memory processes, they do not specifically describe the inability to form new memories following an event. Understanding these concepts is important, as they highlight different aspects of memory and cognition, but they are distinct from what defines anterograde amnesia.