In 1953, 27-year-old Henry Molaison underwent an experimental brain surgery in an attempt to alleviate his severe epileptic seizures. The surgery left him with a form of amnesia; he could remember many things from the past, but was unable to form any new memories.He would become one of the most studies patients in history. Suzanne Corkin worked with and studied Molaison for almost 50 years, until his death in 2008. She writes about how his case has helped scientists understand how memories are processed and stored in her new book Permanent Present Tense: The Unforgettable Life of the Amnesic Patient, H. M.
My conversation with Suzanne Corkin:
