Final answer:
Patient H.M., or Henry Molaison, experienced anterograde and some retrograde amnesia following a bilateral lobectomy intended to control his epilepsy. His condition provided key insights into the medial temporal lobes' role in the formation and consolidation of episodic and procedural memories.
Step-by-step explanation:
Henry Molaison, known as patient H.M., is remembered for his significant contribution to neuropsychology and the understanding of memory. After undergoing a bilateral lobectomy to alleviate his epilepsy, H.M. developed anterograde amnesia, a condition preventing the formation of new memories.
Although he suffered from some degree of retrograde amnesia, losing some past memories, H.M. could recall most events from before his surgery. His ability to remember day-to-day events or things that happened to him, known as episodic memory, was deeply affected, while his procedural memory remained intact. H.M.'s case highlighted the essential role of the medial temporal lobes, including the hippocampus and amygdala, in memory consolidation and formation.