Temporal Lobes Critical to Human Memory

Below are excerpts from Biology and Practical Aspects of Memory (lecutre designed by Jamie Hale and Dr. Adam Lawson).  If you are interested in hosting the lecture you can contact me at jamie.hale1@gmail.com

Temporal lobes critical to human memory 

William Scoville, neurosurgeon obtained direct evidence for the role of temporal lobe in human memory.  Scoville removed the medial temporal lobe and the hippocampus from an epileptic patient- called HM. 

HM’s Story

At age 9 he was struck by someone on a bicycle, he fell to the ground and suffered a head injury that led t o epilepsy. 

 By age 20 severely incapacitated

 It was thought the epilepsy originated within the medial temporal lob

 Surgery succeeded in relieving HM of seizures, but also left him with severe memory loss  

Brenda Milner’s Studies of HM 

-  HM had good ST memory – ST memory involves the PFC, which hadn’t been removed

- Could carry on a normal conversation if it didn’t last too long or involve too many topics

-         Good long-term memory for events that occurred before surgery – language skills good, IQ good, recollection of childhood events

-         Could not convert new ST memory into new LT memory  Examples:  Less than 60 minutes after eating couldn’t remember eating, after 30 years of interaction with Brenda Milner he still failed to recognize her each time she entered a room and greeted him, didn’t recognize himself in recent photos because he remembered himself only as he appeared prior to surgery.  

 

“ He couldn’t acquire the slightest new piece of knowledge.  He lives today chained to the past, in a sort of childlike world.  You can say his personal history stopped with the operation.”  Milner commenting on HM (Kandel, 2006, p. 128)

 

Brenda Milner discussing Memory - video

 

 

The Myth of Hormone-Free Meat!

Some food consumers prefer to eat hormone-free meats. Many consumers are confused about the use of hormones in livestock and poultry production, and about their safety. To the surprise of many, no meat is hormone-free. Animals naturally produce hormones. So, the meat you are eating may have "no added hormone," but it does contain hormone(s).

Another surprise to many, is that Federal law prohibits the use of hormones in poultry production.

From: http://usda01.library.cornell.edu/usda/ers/LDP-M/2000s/2006/LDP-M-12-27-2006_Special_Report.pdf

USDA does not permit the use of hormones in poultry production. Therefore, the label "no hormones added" cannot be used on the labels of poultry unless it is followed by a statement that says "'Federal regulations prohibit the use of hormones." USDA does not allow a "hormone-free" label

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Why are chickens getting so much bigger? Due to advances in breeding, animal nutrition and animal care.  Just as apple farmers aim to plant trees that will produce the most fruit, chicken producers also aim to breed chickens that yield the most meat.

You have been bamboozled if you believe the meat you are eating is hormone free. You have been bamboozled, again, if you believe consuming meat with the label "no-hormones added" is inherently indicative of a more nutritious or healthier choice.

Stop being bamboozled.