Remembering: What 50 Years of Research with Famous Amnesia Patient H.M. Can Teach Us about Memory and How It Works

Fifty years ago, a young man by the name of Henry Molaison was suffering from severe episodes of seizures due to epilepsy. To correct his life-threatening health issue, brain surgery was his only option. What seemed like a sure-thing proved to be a major problem. With a destroyed hippocampus from the procedure, he could no longer create or sustain new memories. From that point on, he became known as the infamous Patient H.M. and dedicated the rest of his life to helping others through extensive testing on his amnesia. The information we now have about the brain and its inner-workings can all be attributed to H.M.

Author Donald G. Mackay, a researcher who worked with H.M., has provided the world with Remembering, with information about H.M., as well as techniques to improve our own memory. Mackay’s work in the research field, was done to inform many people about the importance of reading, staying active, and maintaining a balanced diet, which are all important means of sustaining a healthy and fully-functioning brain. I found this book to be very informative and worth the read for people of any age. Mackay did a fine job of writing to his audience and included questions for reflection and for testing your memory as another means of “exercising” your brain.