Clive Wearing, Physiology of Behavior - Assignment Example

The virus that damages the brain causes the amnesic condition and causes holes in the brain, and then interferes with the normal functioning of the brain. Anterograde amnesia is common in cases of damage in the basal forebrain.

The areas most affected include the temporal lobes, occipital-parietal and frontal lobes, thalamus, hypothalamus and amygdala (Carlson 460). Clive developed this confusion from the flu and lack of enough sleep. Clive cannot remember anything that had never happened to him, but he remembered his wife. He had a memory that he loved her. He would get easily irritated when asked about what he has done and has forgotten.

Clive has retained long-term memory because he can recognize his wife with whom he has had a long relationship with, a few relations, childhood family and facts about childhood life. He is also trapped in the eternal present and could compare his situation to death. He insists that whenever he meets and hugs his wife, which he claims to love eternally. Read More