Clinical Neuropsychology Practice Test

Retrograde amnesia refers to memory loss for events that occurred before the onset of the amnesia, often after a trauma or injury. The hallmark is forgetting past experiences rather than new information. This contrasts with anterograde amnesia, where forming new memories after the event is impaired. Procedural memories (like riding a bike) are typically preserved in retrograde cases, and loss of attention isn't the defining feature of this condition. So the best description is the inability to recall events before the trauma.