Evaluation of Milner (1966) – The Case Study of HM
1. Introduction
• Definition of Key Terms: Memory is a cognitive process that involves encoding, storing, and retrieving information. The hippocampus, a brain structure within the medial temporal lobe, plays a critical role in consolidating short-term memory into long-term memory.
• Context: This study is relevant to the cognitive approach, as it provides evidence for models of memory and localization of brain function. It also contributes to the biological approach, demonstrating how brain structures influence cognition and behavior.
• Outline: This essay will evaluate Milner’s (1966) case study of HM using the TEACUP framework, discussing its empirical evidence, applications, criticisms, and limitations.
2. Main Body (TEACUP Analysis)
Theory
• The case of HM supports the Multi-Store Model of Memory (Atkinson & Shiffrin, 1968) by demonstrating that memory is divided into separate stores.
• It also provides evidence for localization of function, showing that the hippocampus is necessary for transferring short-term memory to long-term memory.
Evidence
• Milner (1966) - Case Study of HM
• Aim: To investigate the effects of hippocampal damage on memory.
• Method:
• Longitudinal case study over 50 years using method triangulation (IQ tests, memory tasks, interviews, MRI scans).
• Cognitive tasks included mirror drawing, revealing that HM could learn procedural skills without remembering learning them.
• Findings:
• HM had anterograde amnesia (inability to form new explicit memories) but retained implicit memory (procedural skills).
• His short-term memory was intact but could not be converted into long-term memory.
• MRI scans (Corkin, 1992, 2003) showed damage to the hippocampus and medial temporal lobe, confirming their role in memory consolidation.
Application
• Demonstrated that memory is not a single function, but involves different brain systems (explicit vs. implicit memory).
• Provided foundational knowledge for treating amnesia and Alzheimer’s disease by highlighting the importance of the hippocampus.
• Contributed to the development of neuroimaging techniques like MRI to study brain function.
Criticism
• Case study limitations: Findings are based on a single individual, limiting generalizability.
• Lack of pre-surgery data: Retrospective elements make it unclear whether all deficits were due to the surgery or pre-existing conditions.
• Medication effects: HM’s epilepsy treatment might have influenced brain function, affecting memory beyond the surgery’s impact.
Unanswered Questions
• To what extent could other brain regions compensate for hippocampal damage over time?
• How do different types of long-term memory (semantic vs. episodic) rely on separate brain mechanisms?
Practical Use
• The study has informed neurosurgical procedures by demonstrating the risks of removing the hippocampus.
• Contributed to therapies for brain injury and memory loss disorders by differentiating memory types and their neural correlates.
3. Counterarguments
• Clive Wearing (1985) supports HM’s findings, showing severe anterograde and retrograde amnesia due to hippocampal damage, reinforcing the role of the hippocampus in memory consolidation.
• However, alternative models like the Working Memory Model (Baddeley & Hitch, 1974) argue that memory is more dynamic than the Multi-Store Model suggests.
4. Conclusion
• The case of HM provides strong empirical support for the role of the hippocampus in memory formation and the Multi-Store Model of Memory.
• Despite methodological limitations, its findings have real-world applications in neuroscience and clinical psychology.
• Future research should explore how different brain regions interact in memory processes and potential treatments for memory disorders.
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