Final answer:
The hippocampus is the structure in the brain that has deteriorated due to Kent's chronic heavy alcohol use and dietary deficiencies, leading to memory problems.
Step-by-step explanation:
The correct answer is b) hippocampus.
The hippocampus is a structure located in the temporal lobes of the brain. It plays a crucial role in forming and retrieving memories, particularly declarative memories which involve factual information and events.
Chronic heavy alcohol use and dietary deficiencies can lead to deterioration of the hippocampus and result in memory problems.
One of the most well-known cases demonstrating the importance of the hippocampus in memory is that of patient H.M.
who had both his left and right hippocampi removed and experienced severe memory deficits as a result. This case, along with other research studies involving rats and lesioned hippocampi, has provided evidence for the critical role of the hippocampus in memory processing.
Learn more about Hippocampus