Milner (1966)

Preperation for SAQ Localisation

What did Scoville remove?

hippocampus and medial temporal lobe

What happened after his surgery?

developed severe amnesia

Why was that removed?

to treat epilepsy

anterograde amnesia

inability to form new episodic and semantic memories after surgery

retrograde amnesia

partial loss of memories before surgery

aim

study how removal of the hippocampus affects memory formation

research method

longitudial case study (over 50 years)

psychometric testing results

IQ tests showed above-average intelligence

direct observation

monitored his daily behaviour and memory lapses

qualitative data source

interviews with HM and his family

cognitive testing

memory recall tasks and mirror-drawing skill tests

MRI scans in Corkin 1992 and 2003

showed extent of hippocampal and temporal lobe damage

hippocampus role

critical for converting ST to LT memory

episode/semantic memory

HM could not form new episodic or semantic memories

working memory

intact; could hold information through rehearsal

procedural memory

intact; could learn motor skills but not conscious recollection

cognitive maps

could form spatial memory

LT storage

located outside hippocampus; aids consolidation, not permanent storage

implicit vs explicit memory

evidence that different brain systems support different types of memory

strength: longitudial study

allowed observation of memory changes over 50 years

strength: method triangulation

multiple methods increased reliabilty of findigns

strength; ecological validity

observed him in natural environement

limitation: unique case

cannot be replicated or generalisable

strength; ethics

high standards of conset, condifentiality, and protection from harm

limitation: retrospective

no solid baseline data of his memory before surgery

limitation: medication effects

epilepsy treatment may have contributed to brain damage