H.M.; Also the Case of H.M., Molaison, Henry (1926–2008)

Landmark Clinical, Scientific, and Professional Contributions

• Investigations of Henry Molaison’s (HM) neurocognitive functioning following his surgical intervention have revolutionized our understanding of learning and memory processes. HM’s specific surgical intervention and associated cognitive impairments provided information not only about differential memory activities but also about the neural substrates involved in the mediation of these processes. Investigations of the alterations in HM’s memory led to a landmark paper by Brenda Milner, a psychologist working with HM, and William Scoville, his neurosurgeon. The paper, entitled Loss of recent memory after bilateral hippocampal lesions, was published in the Journal of Neurology, Neurosurgery, and Psychiatry in 1957; it brought about a sea change in the understanding of the neural substrates of memory. This paper has been cited more than 1800 times since its initial publication.

• In this landmark paper, as well as in many others...