For example, you forget something that happened before you got hit on the head. Anterograde amnesia is a loss of memory that occurs after the time of the event, such as forgetting something that happened after having surgery. Contrary to popular opinion, anterograde amnesia is probably more common. Most people with amnesia experience a loss related to specific time periods. The movie image of forgetting everything about your personal past but remembering everything to do with daily functioning is a myth.
Most amnesia is due to physical causes.
However, it is common to experience a certain amount of memory loss around a severe injury. For example, many people involved in a severe car accident may experience both types of amnesia. This does not necessarily indicate any severe or lasting damage. Many people experience a certain amount of amnesia after surgery. TGA is caused by a problem related to blood flow in the brain.