Following a cerebral injury, a patient is unable to retain new information. This deficit is best described as:

- Anterograde amnesia is characterized by the inability to form new memories following a cerebral injury, while past memories remain intact.
- This occurs due to damage in the hippocampus or related medial temporal lobe structures, which are essential for memory consolidation.
- Patients can recall events prior to injury but cannot retain new information.
- This deficit differentiates it from retrograde amnesia, where past memories are lost.
- Hence, the inability to retain new information after brain injury is best described as anterograde amnesia.

Reference: Davidson’s Principles and Practice of Medicine, 23rd Edition, Chapter: Neurological disease, Page 480.