Which type of memory is typically lost when the cerebral cortex is damaged?

The correct answer is remote memory. Remote memory refers to the ability to recall information from the distant past, such as events, facts, or experiences that occurred long before the current moment. Damage to the cerebral cortex can disrupt this aspect of memory because the cortex plays a critical role in the storage and retrieval of long-term memories. The cerebral cortex is involved in the consolidation of memories and helps maintain connections between various pieces of information that have been stored over time.

When the integrity of the cerebral cortex is compromised, it can interfere with access to these older memories, leading to difficulties in recalling them. This is particularly evident in conditions such as Alzheimer's disease, where degeneration of the cortex impacts long-standing memories before it affects more recent memories.

In contrast, recent memory involves the ability to remember events or information that have occurred in the short-term, working memory focuses on the temporary storage of information for immediate tasks, and implicit memory relates to skills and conditioned responses that do not require conscious recall. These types of memory tend to be less affected by cerebral cortex damage, making remote memory the most impacted in such scenarios.