Question

One striking aspect of H.M.’s memory deficit is that he

a. reversed word order in repeated sentences.
b. only remembered recent facts.
c. could learn some new tasks, but is unaware of having learned them.
d. indicated he remembered things he had never seen.
e. showed signs of confabulation.

Answer 1

H.M.'s memory deficit was unique: he could learn new tasks, but without awareness of having learned them Option (c). This phenomenon highlighted his ability to acquire skills while remaining oblivious to the learning process, showcasing the complexity of memory systems.

Expalnation

H.M., a famous amnesiac patient, exhibited a unique memory deficit. Despite being unable to remember recent events or experiences, he could learn certain tasks through repetition, showing a form of procedural memory. However, the remarkable aspect was his lack of awareness regarding this learning; he couldn't recollect acquiring these new skills. This phenomenon, known as implicit memory, allowed him to learn without conscious awareness. For instance, he might improve at a task each time he did it, yet he wouldn't remember ever doing it before.

His inability to recall recent facts or events is in contrast to his capacity for procedural learning, leading to the conclusion that he could learn new tasks while remaining unaware of the learning process. This dichotomy in his memory capabilities was a significant aspect of his condition and has contributed substantially to our understanding of different memory systems in the brain.