Localisation study: HM

Question 1

What was the aim of this study?

Answer 1

To understand the effects that surgery had on HM

Question 2

What were the procedures of this study?

Answer 2

• Method triangulation was used
• Psychometric testing (IQ)
• Direct observation of his behaviour
• Interviews with HM and his family
• Cognitive testing (memory recall and learning tasks i.e. reverse mirror drawing)
• Later an MRI was done to determine the extent of the damage done

Question 3

What did the surgery involve?

Answer 3

• Experimental surgery (epileptic attacks from falling off bike)
• ## Neurosurgeon removed tissue from the medial temporal lobe (including the hippocampus)

Question 4

What were the findings of this study?

Answer 4

• HM could not form new episodic knowledge (events) or semantic (general knowledge)
• Suggesting that the brain structures that were removed from his brain are important for long - term memory

Question 5

What did researchers conclude?

Answer 5

• Hippocampus plays a critical role in converting memories of experiences from short-term to long-term