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Localisation SAQ

Localisation is the theory that specific brain areas are linked to particular psychological functions, illustrated by the case study of Henry Molaison (HM). Following the removal of his hippocampus to treat epilepsy, HM developed anterograde amnesia, indicating the hippocampus's role in converting short-term memories to long-term ones, while other cognitive functions remained intact. This study highlights the complexity of memory processes and suggests that different types of memory may be localised in various brain regions.

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2 views

Localisation SAQ

Localisation is the theory that specific brain areas are linked to particular psychological functions, illustrated by the case study of Henry Molaison (HM). Following the removal of his hippocampus to treat epilepsy, HM developed anterograde amnesia, indicating the hippocampus's role in converting short-term memories to long-term ones, while other cognitive functions remained intact. This study highlights the complexity of memory processes and suggests that different types of memory may be localised in various brain regions.

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mohtapujita
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Explain Localisation with reference to one relevant study

Localisation is the theory that certain areas of the brain are responsible for certain psychological
functions. It can be demonstrated by the case study of Henry Molaison, also known as HM.
Localisation can be strict and weak. Strict localisation is the idea that there is a clear correspondence
between psychological functions and brain areas, and that all functions can be clearly mapped onto
the brain in a one-to-one manner. Weak localisation is the idea that one brain area may be responsible
for a function, but not exclusively, and other areas may also take over the functions. For example,
language production and comprehension are weakly localised in the left hemisphere. The idea of strict
localisation has been gradually replaced by the belief that localisation is relative. Some functions are
strictly localised, for example, the production of articulate speech is localised in Broca’s area and
speech comprehension in Wernicke’s area. Some components of a function may be localised while
other components of the same function may be distributed.
Scoville and Milner’s case study on HM demonstrates the theory of localisation. It shows the role of
the hippocampus in turning short term memory into long term memory, and also that memory storage,
procedural memory and IQ must be localised in other areas of the brain, not the hippocampus. As a
result of a head injury at 9 years old, HM suffered from epileptic seizures and so to cure him of these
seizures, with consent from HM and his parents, doctors decided to remove his hippocampus in a
surgery. After the surgery, HM suffered from anterograde amnesia, which meant that he was unable to
form new memories; he also developed partial retrograde amnesia, which meant that he could not
recall some events from before the surgery either. For example, he could never remember his new
address, which changed after the surgery. He could never remember Milner either, because she met
him after the surgery.

Therefore, it can be concluded from these findings that one function of the hippocampus is to convert
short term memories into long term ones. Aside from his memory, no other part of HM’s behaviour
was affected. His IQ test scores even increased. He could carry conversations successfully. This
suggests that personality and IQ must be localised in other areas of the brain and are not a function of
the hippocampus. Milner also demonstrated that procedural memory must be localised in a different
part of the brain than the hippocampus by using the star tracing task. In this, Milner asked HM to fill
in a star with a pencil by looking at a mirror reflection of his hands and the star. HM struggled the first
time. He completed this task daily for one week and by the seventh day he was adept at filling in the
star. However, each time, he had no recollection of doing it before. Thus, Milner could conclude that
while his memory was damaged, he was still able to acquire and develop new skills. This further
supports localisation of brain function because it demonstrates how procedural memory must require a
different part of the brain to other types of memory.

In conclusion, the longitudinal case study of HM provides valuable information regarding localisation
of function, in particular, the role of the hippocampus on memory. The hippocampus has a critical role
in converting memories from short-term to long-term. The study demonstrates that the processes of
memory are very complex, and the hippocampus is not the only structure involved in the process.

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