In the case of Henry Molaison, removal of the hippocampus left him with severe amnesia and a specific memory problem. Which memory process was specifically impaired?

In the case of Henry Molaison, removal of the hippocampus left him with severe amnesia and a specific memory problem. Which memory process was specifically impaired?

• A. Short-term memory
• B. Transfer of information from short-term to long-term memory
• C. Procedural memory
• D. Sensory memory

Answer: (B)

Consolidation is the process of transferring information from short-term (working) memory into long-term memory. In Henry Molaison, removing the hippocampus disrupted this consolidation, so he could hold information briefly but struggled to form lasting, explicit (declarative) memories for new events or facts. His ability to learn new skills that don’t rely on the hippocampus (procedural memory) remained, illustrating that different memory systems depend on different brain regions. That’s why the transfer from short-term to long-term memory is the best answer. Sensory memory is the initial sensory register and short-term memory is the temporary holding stage, both of which were relatively preserved in him, while procedural memory is intact despite the hippocampal loss.

Consolidation is the process of transferring information from short-term (working) memory into long-term memory. In Henry Molaison, removing the hippocampus disrupted this consolidation, so he could hold information briefly but struggled to form lasting, explicit (declarative) memories for new events or facts. His ability to learn new skills that don’t rely on the hippocampus (procedural memory) remained, illustrating that different memory systems depend on different brain regions. That’s why the transfer from short-term to long-term memory is the best answer. Sensory memory is the initial sensory register and short-term memory is the temporary holding stage, both of which were relatively preserved in him, while procedural memory is intact despite the hippocampal loss.