The Case Study of HM: Supporting the Multi-Store Model

The case of patient HM, studied by Milner, offers compelling support for the multi-store model of memory. This case study provides crucial insights into the separation of short-term and long-term memory stores.

Key Points:

• HM underwent surgery to remove his hippocampus, which severely impacted his ability to form new long-term memories.
• Despite the damage to long-term memory, HM's short-term memory remained largely intact.
• HM could not remember personal or public events that occurred after his surgery, demonstrating the impact on long-term memory formation.

Evaluation:

• The case supports the multi-store model's assumption of separate short-term and long-term memory stores.
• HM's ability to maintain information in short-term memory while being unable to form new long-term memories provides strong evidence for the distinction between these stores.
• The study demonstrates that damage to one memory store (long-term memory) does not necessarily affect the functioning of another (short-term memory).

Example: HM could not remember the death of his parents or major historical events like the Vietnam War, yet he could recall information presented to him immediately, showing intact short-term memory.

Highlight: This case study is particularly significant as it provides real-world evidence for the theoretical model, demonstrating how brain damage can selectively impact different memory stores.