RT Journal Article SR Electronic T1 The head trauma amnesia cure JF Neurology JO Neurology FD Lippincott Williams & Wilkins SP 2291 OP 2294 DO 10.1212/WNL.0000000000002765 VO 86 IS 24 A1 Spiers, Mary V. YR 2016 UL http://n.neurology.org/content/86/24/2291.abstract AB The myth that a second head trauma can restore memory to someone with a previous head injury is evident in popular fiction and believed by a significant number of people. The double trauma amnesia plot device appeared in 19th century fiction and was fully formed by the 1880s. This article explores the contributions of scientific and popular ideas related to brain symmetry and memory permanence that fueled inaccurate ideas about memory recovery following brain injury.