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Cognitive Psychology

Case studies of brain-damaged patients

  • 3 things to know
  • Papers 1 and 3

Overview

Recall questions on Henry Molaison, the qualitative data a case study yields, and the strengths and weaknesses of the method.

What you need to know

Answer each one before you reveal it.

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Key term

Why was HM unable to form new long-term declarative memories after his surgery?

Process

How did HM's case provide evidence for the multi-store model of memory?

Process

What surgical procedure did Henry Molaison (HM) undergo in 1953, and why was it performed?

Questions from this subtopic

Each one with the model answer underneath.

  1. 1

    What surgical procedure did Henry Molaison (HM) undergo in 1953, and why was it performed?

    Model answer

    Bilateral medial temporal lobe resection, performed to treat severe epilepsy.

  2. 2

    What was the main cognitive consequence of HM's surgery?

    Model answer

    Profound anterograde amnesia - he could not form new long-term declarative memories.

  3. 3

    Why was HM unable to form new long-term declarative memories after his surgery?

    Model answer

    The removal of his hippocampus prevented memory consolidation, demonstrating the hippocampus is essential for transferring information into long-term declarative memory.

  4. 4

    What does HM's case reveal about the role of the hippocampus?

    Model answer

    The hippocampus is crucial for memory consolidation - converting short-term memories into long-term declarative memories.

  5. 5

    Which memory abilities did HM retain after his surgery?

    Model answer

    Short-term memory and procedural memory abilities.

  6. 6

    What does HM's retention of procedural memory but loss of declarative memory demonstrate about brain organisation?

    Model answer

    That procedural memory and declarative long-term memory are processed by different brain structures.

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