What do we call the inability to recall memories from before a specific event?

The inability to recall memories from before a specific event is identified as retrograde amnesia. This condition affects a person's ability to retrieve memories that were formed prior to the onset of amnesia, which can occur due to various factors such as traumatic brain injuries, diseases, or psychological stress. Retrograde amnesia typically highlights the impact of the event on previously established memories, while the ability to form new memories might still be intact.

In contrast, anterograde amnesia refers to the inability to form new memories after a specific event, making it distinct from retrograde amnesia. Memory loss is a more general term that does not specify the nature or timing of the memory impairment. Confabulation involves the creation of false memories without the intention to deceive, which can sometimes occur in cases of memory impairment but does not specifically address the recall of memories prior to an event. Therefore, retrograde amnesia specifically describes the situation of forgetting past memories, making it the correct term for the described condition.