Citation

Spiers MV. Neurology 2016; 86(24): 2291-2294.

Affiliation

From the Department of Psychology, Drexel University, Philadelphia, PA. spiersm@drexel.edu.

Copyright

(Copyright © 2016, Lippincott Williams and Wilkins)

DOI

10.1212/WNL.0000000000002765

PMID

27298448

Abstract

The myth that a second head trauma can restore memory to someone with a previous head injury is evident in popular fiction and believed by a significant number of people. The double trauma amnesia plot device appeared in 19th century fiction and was fully formed by the 1880s. This article explores the contributions of scientific and popular ideas related to brain symmetry and memory permanence that fueled inaccurate ideas about memory recovery following brain injury.

© 2016 American Academy of Neurology.

Language: en