Final answer:
Bilateral temporal lobectomy is associated with memory loss, especially the inability to form new memories known as anterograde amnesia. The medial temporal lobes, including the hippocampus and amygdala, are essential for memory formation and retrieval.
Step-by-step explanation:
Bilateral temporal lobectomy, exemplified by H.M.'s case, results in profound memory deficits, notably anterograde amnesia, where the ability to form new memories is impaired. The temporal lobes, particularly the medial structures like the hippocampus and amygdala, play a pivotal role in memory processes. Following H.M.'s surgery, he experienced a marked decline in episodic memory, retaining preoperative memories while struggling to encode and store new experiences.
Although some short-term memory persisted, it gradually dissipated due to the loss of crucial structures in the medial temporal lobes. H.M.'s case underscored the distinct roles of various memory systems, revealing the specific contribution of the medial temporal lobes to the consolidation of long-term memories, a groundbreaking insight that significantly advanced our understanding of memory functions in the human brain.