HM - content study Flashcards
(17 cards)
What does HM stand for? why is this important?
Henry Molaison
Shows the researchers respected his confidentiality as ethics despite the study beginning before the code of conduct in 2009
What is a longitudinal study?
Correlational research of repeated variables conducted over a long period of time of one person/group.
What is a case study?
a study of an individual or small group of people, typically with a specific case, such as HM’s specific brain damage.
What is a triangulation of data?
Using multiple data sources and research methods in an investigation to reach a richer understanding of a behaviour or cognitive process.
What was the triangulation of data used in HM’s study?
1) Psychometric testing
2) Observations of his behaviour
3) Interviews with him and his family.
4) Cognitive testing: he did some memory tests to see his learning and his memory skills.
5) Corkin MRI measured the extent of damage done to HM’s brain
What tested HM’s procedural memories?
He was able to draw a star and improve his drawing every time though had no memory of learning.
When was the case study?
1957-2015
What happened to HM?
He had epileptic seizures from a serious injury when he fell off his bike aged 7, and had a brain operation age 27 in which his Hippocampus was removed bilaterally. This stopped the seizures but he was unable to make new long term memories and lost all memories up until he was 16 (anterograde amnesia)
What brain scans were conducted following his operation
MRI (Magnetic Resonance Imaging)
What conclusions were made from his studies?
Hippocampus is responsible for creating LTM
What were the findings of this study?
The hippocampus plays a crucial role in converting memories and experiences from STM to LTM.
Other parts of the brain also store memory as he didn’t lose all of his memories.
What is the problem with case studies?
small sample, very unique experience, difficult to generalise to other brain damage cases or others in society as may have individual/personality factors
How is HM’s study applicable?
Understanding that different parts of the brain creates different memories.
How is HM not applicable?
very specific type of brain damage so hard to generalise to society.
How is HM’s study valid?
Longitudinal study - lots of rich detail over a long period of time
Triangulation of data - different memory tests and observations,
How were studies on HM ethical?
They had his consent to study
OTOH, brain damage so may not remember consenting.
‘HM’ Confidential
Ethical issues with HM’s studies?
Issues with consent and RtW as he may forget his rights/what he consented to.
