transient global amnesia

amnesia /am·ne·sia/ (am-ne´zhah) pathologic impairment of memory.

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anterograde amnesia  amnesia for events occurring subsequent to the episode precipitating the disorder.

dissociative amnesia  a dissociative disorder characterized by a sudden loss of memory for important personal information and which is not due to the direct effects of a psychogenic substance or a general medical condition.

psychogenic amnesia  dissociative a.

retrograde amnesia  amnesia for events occurring prior to the episode precipitating the disorder.

transient global amnesia  a temporary episode of short-term memory loss without other neurological impairment.

visual amnesia  alexia.

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transient global amnesia (TGA)

Etymology: L, transire, to go through, globus, ball; Gk, amnesia, forgetfulness

a temporary short-term memory loss followed by full recovery. The disorder tends to affect middle-aged adults and may be attributed to cerebral ischemia. It is usually not accompanied by other mental deficiencies.

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transient global amnesia

Neurology The loss of memory largely attributable to ischemia, possibly vasospasms. See Amnesia.