HM Flashcards
What did HM have from a young age following an accident?
Epilepsy
What was removed bilaterally because of HM’s accident?
Hippocampus
What could HM not make because his hippocampus was removed?
Long term memories (episodic and semantic)
What could HM still do despite the removal of his hippocampus?
Access old long term memories (stored in other places of the brain)
What could HM still use?
Short term memory (keeping things in mind through maintenance rehearsal)
Could make procedural memories e.g. mirror drawing tasks
How is HM useful?
Tells us how the brain makes new types of memory and the different types that people have
What is a weakness of using HM?
Small sample (case study) so results gained about hippocampus are not applicable to wider population
Why is it ethical to use the case study of HM?
Using someone with pre-existing brain damage makes it more ethical because we would not be able to do it ethically if we were trying to manipulate
Why are there ethical issues with HM?
Memory issues due to the removal of the hippocampus so difficulties with getting fully informed consent
Why is using a case study of HM good to explain how memory works?
Taken place over a long period of time so it is rich in detail and depth of information about how memory works
What is a weakness of using the case study of HM to explain how memory works?
Studies of unique individuals (who have very specific brain damage) so results might not be applicable to anyone else
