[Systematic revision of the neural bases of dissociative amnesia].

INTRODUCTION

Dissociative amnesia (DA) is a retrograde amnesia characterized by an alteration in episodic memory.

AIM: Establish the neural bases which underlie the development of dissociative amnesia.

METHODS

Systematic and evaluative bibliographic review of qualitative type.

RESULTS

The bibliography found suggested functional inhibition in the hippocampus, amygdala, temporal lobes, prefrontal cortex and thalamus. Also, hypoglycemia was observed in right cerebral cortex, at the fronto-temporal junction. An inhibition in the potential action P300 was also stated.

CONCLUSIONS

There is enough evidence to say that dissociative amnesia is an objectifiable biologically based pathology. There is a need to review the current conceptualization of this syndrome and to establish new criteria that would allow us to distinguish DA from organic amnesias.