Milner (1957)

Question 1

Aim

Answer 1

To determine the effects of brain damage on memory loss in different parts of the brain over a long period of time

Question 2

Participant

Answer 2

1 male participant (HM), aged 27 when the study began, but was studied extensively for over 50 years

Question 3

Background

Answer 3

• Longitudinal study run over 50 years (1957-2008)
• HM was involved in a bicyle accident aged 7, which caused epileptic seizures
• Seizures eventually became so debilitating it affected his ability to function
• Surgery performed removing tissue from mid temporal lobe including hippocampus of both sides of HMs brain
• Epilepsy ceased but suffered from anterograde amnesia

Question 4

Method

Answer 4

Underwent various cognitive tests:

• Psychometric testing: IQ testing was given to HM. His results were above average
• Direct observation of his behaviour;
• Interviews with both HM and with family members
• Cognitive testing: memory recall tests as well as learning tasks - such as reverse mirror drawing

Question 5

Results

Answer 5

• There are many different form of memory, all located in different areas of the brain
• STM stored is not stored in hippocampus, concluded that hippocampus is not involved in forming and storing new procedural skills
• Concluded that implicit memory contains several stores, each related to different brain areas
• Hippocampus and parahippocampal areas play a critical role in converting memories of experiences from STM to LTM

Question 6

Conclusion

Answer 6

Regained some memories from prior to surgery, therefore medial temporal region is not permanent storage but important for forming, organising, consolidating and retrieving memory

Question 7

Evaluation

Answer 7

• Case study, longitudinal, over 50 years
• Change could be observed over time
• Method triangulation.
• Cannot be easily replicated
• Some of the study was retrospective in nature. This means that we do not have a lot of data on HM’s actual cognitive abilities before the accident
• Medication taken to treat epilepsy may have resulted in some of the damage; not highly relevant
• High ecological validity, no variables were manipulated and HM was observed in his natural environment
• Met high ethical standards of consent, confidentiality and protection from harm