Case of Henry Molaison (H.M.)

The case of Henry Molaison, known as H.M., involved a surgery in 1953 to treat severe epilepsy, during which parts of his brain responsible for memory were removed. Afterwards, he couldn't form new long-term memories, though his short-term memory remained intact. H.M. demonstrated that certain brain areas, particularly the hippocampus, are vital for creating and storing new memories. His case greatly advanced understanding of memory processes, revealing the brain's specialized roles and illustrating how some functions are localized to specific regions.