A 30 year old male, who met with a A, regained conscious after 36 hours. It was then discovered that the patient is unable to create new memories. The probable site of lesion for this symptom is
**Core Concept**
The patient's inability to create new memories, despite being conscious and having intact old memories, is a classic symptom of anterograde amnesia. This condition is often caused by damage to the hippocampus, a structure in the temporal lobe that plays a crucial role in forming new memories.
**Why the Correct Answer is Right**
The hippocampus is essential for the consolidation of short-term memories into long-term memories. When the hippocampus is damaged, new memories are formed but cannot be stored or retrieved. This is because the hippocampus facilitates the transfer of information from the hippocampal formation to other parts of the brain, such as the neocortex, where long-term storage occurs. The patient's inability to create new memories suggests that the hippocampus is likely damaged, leading to anterograde amnesia.
**Why Each Wrong Option is Incorrect**
**Option A:** This option is not provided.
**Option B:** While the temporal lobe is involved in memory processing, it is not the specific region responsible for anterograde amnesia. The temporal lobe is a broader region that includes the hippocampus, but the question is asking for a more precise location.
**Option C:** This option is not provided.
**Option D:** This option is not provided.
**Clinical Pearl / High-Yield Fact**
The famous patient HM, who underwent bilateral medial temporal lobe resection to alleviate severe epilepsy, suffered from severe anterograde amnesia and was unable to form new memories. This case study highlighted the importance of the hippocampus in memory formation and has been instrumental in understanding the neural basis of memory.
**Correct Answer:** C.