Final answer:
The temporal lobe areas crucial for memory processing include the hippocampus and amygdala. Patient HM's case, where he lost the ability to create new memories after hippocampus removal, illustrates the importance of these structures.
Step-by-step explanation:
The areas of the temporal lobe most involved in memory processing include structures such as the hippocampus and the amygdala, along with the adjacent cortex within the medial temporal lobe. The hippocampus is particularly significant for the formation of long-term memory.
A notable case that helped reveal the role of these structures in memory is that of patient HM, who lost the ability to form new memories following the removal of both sides of his hippocampus during surgery for epilepsy treatment. This case underlined the importance of the medial temporal lobe structures in the consolidation of memories from short-term to long-term storage.