IB Psych HM Case Study

Aim

To determine the extent of HM's memory deficiency

Longitudinal case study

An observational research method in which data is gathered for the same subjects repeatedly over a period of time; can extend over years or even decades

Procedure

Neurosurgeon, Dr. Scoville, performed a experimental surgery taking out most of the hippocampus and tissue from the medial temporal lobes; HM was 27

Results

Concluded that the hippocampus wasn't the site of memory storage, but the site where it turns short term to long term memories

Conclusion

-HM strongly affirms the idea of localization of function in the brain

-asserting that the function of organization of memory is localized in the hippocampus

Corkin et al. Results: MRI

- the extent of the damage

- damaged the hippocampus and amygdala produced the severe amnesia in HM

- the part of the brain that was in charge of changing short to long term memories was damaged.

What did they operate on?

They took out most of the hippocampus and some tissue from the medial temporal lobe

Why did they operate on that specific part of the brain?

-Experimental surgery removing tissue from the medial temporal lobe including the hippocampus

-Believed to be some relationship between the seizures and that part of the brain

Anterograde Amnesia

Inability to recall things after the event

How do you relate this case study back to a BLOA?

-Behaviors are products of the anatomy and physiology of the nervous and endocrine system

Who was the first to report the case of H.M?

Milner (1957) and the profound effects on memory functioning following an operation which removed the hippocampus and adjacent areas in H.M.'s brain.

What is assumed about how H.M's seizures were connected?

The medial temporal lobe and the hipocampus

What does this case study show about the role of hippocampus?

That it plays a critical role I converting memories of experience from short-term memory to long-term memory.

What can be learned about localization of function of brain in relation to memory from the case study of H.M.?

-Procedural memory is not stored through the hippocampus

-The brain has several memory systems

-Processes of memory are very complex

-The hippocampus is not the only structure involved in the process.

weakness of longitudinal study

-need larger sample size

-extremely time consuming

strengths of longitudinal study

-show clear variable patterns over time

-allow for clear focus and validity

localization of function

The idea that different parts of the brain do different things

hippocampus

part of the limbic system, the area in the brain that is associated with memory, emotions, and motivation

amygdala

a section of the brain that is responsible for detecting fear and preparing for emergency events

temporal lobe

each of the paired lobes of the brain lying beneath the temples, including areas concerned with the understanding of speech.