HM and case studies

Question 1

P-Who was HM?

Answer 1

Henry Molasion suffered from severe epilepsy and had his hippocampus removed bilaterally in 1953.

Question 2

P-After surgery.

Answer 2

His epilepsy was cured, however he developed severe
anterograde amnesia. He could no longer form new episodic memory, but still maintained his ability for procedural learning.

Question 3

AO1 Points

Answer 3

• unable to form long term memories
• could not recognise hospital staff
• can hold a conversation but would forget minutes later
• could acquire new motor skills e.g. mirror drawing task
• personaility remained the same

Question 4

EV-Scoville & Milner 1957

Answer 4

suggests a link between hippocampus and the ability to remember specific facts and episodes

Question 5

EV- Multi Store Model

Answer 5

HM could not convert short term memory into long term which links to the ideas of the Multi Store Model that long term and short term memory are seperate

Question 6

Strengths?

Answer 6

• allows an in depth detailed longitudinal study
• qualitative data; rich descriptions. Not over simplified
• ethical due to Henry’s identity being anonymous up until death
• naturally occuring event which could not be replicated due to ethical reasons

Question 7

Limitations?

Answer 7

• is not standardised therefore can be considered unscientific or subjective
• lacks generalisability due to it being a case study about one individual findings are specific.
• Hard to replicate and can not be tested on reliability