To add to my post last week, I thought I would expand on the topic of fear and memory. To this effect, I would like to share the story I have read about Dr. Claparede, a French doctor, who in 1911, published his observations of an amnesic patient.

The case is about his visits to his patient, a woman who would forget him over and over again once he disappeared for a few moments from the room where she was hospitalised.  

One day, Claparade hid a tack in his palm and pricked the patient when they shook hands. The next time they "met," the patient refused to shake Claparede's hand though she couldn't explain why since she did not recall ever having met the doctor.

This case demonstrates that the brain has multiple memory systems. While one of the systems did not work, another system was still working, probably trying to protect the woman from harm.

According to research when an event is associated with a strong emotion, the amygdala is heavily involved in this process and a series of hormones are released in this area of the brain strengthening the memory pathways in the brain. This allows for easy recall of the memory of the emotional experience.

The amygdala is not only involved in the fear response but in the memory of fear as well. The amygdala has connections with areas in the prefrontal cortex which is associated with working memory.

Attention and working memory are closely related and recent studies have shown that amygdale damage interferes with an important aspect of attention, which is the capacity to inhibit certain stimulus when we are paying attention to something else (called selective attention).

Originally posted on: 10 September 2010
Last updated on: 17 April 2024
Silvia Damiano

Silvia Damiano

Founder & CEO
About my Brain Institute

Scientist, educator, author, speaker, coach, award-winning leadership specialist, filmmaker and creator of the i4 Neuroleader Model & Methodology.

Silvia's scientific background and curiosity about the human brain led her to a decade long journey of research into optimal brain functioning and the application of neuroscience in leadership and daily life. Her past and current roles have uniquely prepared her for the current undertaking, that of leadership activist & change agent.

Silvia Damiano founded The About my Brain Institute in 2009, with the purpose of democratising leadership & neuroscience. She has a passionately held belief, that leaders in our 21st century global economy and their organisations must radically change long-held ideas of what constitutes effective leadership

In her ground-breaking books ‘Leadership is Upside Down’, ‘Brain-Friendly Leadership’ and the 2018 documentary ‘Make Me A Leader’, Silvia provides both compelling evidence and explores the importance of leadership in our personal and professional lives and what it takes to develop the human behind the leader.

Silvia has worked in different countries, across many industries, helping teams and organisations improve business performance. Silvia’s clients have described her as a passionate, dynamic, a highly experienced speaker and master facilitator on the topics of Emotional Intelligence, Cultural Change, Neuroleadership & Engagement.

Silvia is passionate about leaving a legacy of well-rounded leaders who can act and decide in a way that better serves humanity. Her clients include Microsoft, Australian Stock Exchange, NSW Government, VISA, Fuji Xerox and Manpower amongst many other global companies.

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