The Biology of Learning and Memory

Question 1

Neuropsychology’s Dr. Brenda Milner

Answer 1

-mother of neuropsychology as separate discipline in psychology
-Studied patient HM
-Was JMU visiting scholar in 1976!
-Still a professor of neurology at McGrill University (she is 104)
-Worked with neurosurgeon Dr. Wilder Penfield

Question 2

Amnesia

Answer 2

-H.M. is a famous case study in psychology
-Terrible epilepsy from bike accident
-in 1953 (age 26) agreed to have medial temporal lobes removed

Question 3

Amnesia

Answer 3

-H.M. had seizures abated, but at a cost
-short term memory and working memory intact
-Virtually no long term memory

Question 4

Amnesia

Answer 4

-“anterograde amnesia” impaired forming new memories after damage
-Also, had some “retrograde amnesia” (loss of memory events prior to brain damage)

Question 5

Hippocampus

Answer 5

-Greek for “sea horse”