Permanent Present Tense

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In 1953, 27-year-old Henry Gustave Molaison underwent a targeted lobotomy to alleviate his severe epilepsy, resulting in an unexpected outcome: he could no longer form new memories and remained trapped in the present. However, this tragedy became a significant contribution to neuroscience. Renowned neuroscientist Suzanne Corkin, along with her colleagues, highlighted the stark contrast between Henry's memory impairment and his intact intellect, leading to groundbreaking insights into the brain's memory functions. Known as H. M. until his death in 2008, Henry's case became one of the most influential in neuroscience. Corkin worked with him for nearly fifty years, sharing the remarkable story of this intelligent and good-humored man. Despite his inability to remember Corkin from one meeting to the next, he was always happy to see her and eager to participate in research. His case led to vital advancements, revealing that even profound amnesia allows for certain types of learning and that distinct memory processes are localized in different brain circuits. Henry's experiences taught us that learning can occur without conscious awareness and that short-term and long-term memory are separate capacities. Corkin's work offers a deeply felt tribute to her patient and friend, illuminating the cutting-edge discoveries in neuroscience shaped by Henry's unique situation.