Where do memories go when one experiences amnesia?
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Depends what causes the amnesia.
There are some issues that actually destroy the memories, and others just make them inaccessible.
In our brain memories are stored in the form of connections between neurons. We find them by following pathways of neuron connections that are found in related memories.
If you have a degenerative brain disease the neurons themselves can get destroyed. Other issues just mess with the coordination, making it impossible to find the signal path that leads to the correct memory.
Your memories still exist. You just have no “access” to them. Memories don’t go anywhere, it’s impossible to lose a memory. In fact, probably every event of your life is somewhere in your brain, stored neatly, and you can’t access it. It’s why hypnosis exists, although I’d suggest you stay weary about that.
As an MS patient who, before my disease got to this point, had an eidetic memory, this thread and any discussion resulting, is very fascinating to me. I’m willing to help or answer questions in any capacity as someone suffering from knowing I’m watching myself lose my “mind” I’ve had this entire time.
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