Final answer:
Jacob might have suffered damage to his temporal lobes and hippocampi, affecting his memory of life events prior to the injury. Other cognitive and personality changes could be due to damage to the prefrontal cortex, and recovery may involve various treatments and therapies capitalizing on neuroplasticity.
Step-by-step explanation:
Jacob's difficulty in remembering his life before the injury suggests that his temporal lobes, particularly the hippocampi, could have been affected. Traumatic brain injuries can lead to various symptoms depending on the location of the damage within the brain. The hippocampus is crucial for forming new memories and recalling past events.
If the injury was severe and affected the memory centers, there may also be lasting cognitive and personality changes due to potential damage to other parts of the brain, such as the prefrontal cortex, which is known to influence personality and is exemplified by the case of Phineas Gage. In general, when a person suffers from a traumatic brain injury that affects memory, medical intervention may include medications, counseling, and therapies aimed at recovery or coping mechanisms.