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Explain how biological factors may affect one cognitive process I. II. III. Introduction: This paper will explain how biological factors such as brain damage in the hippocampus specifically affects the cognitive process of memory focusing (specifically LTM) on the case studies of Clive Wearing (Sacks, 1997) and HM (Scoville, 1957) While the biological correlates of memory are not clearly established, there is still a significant relationship between the brain structures involvement with memory. Biological factors affect the cognitive process to a large extent. The cases of Clive and HM show that if the structures of the brain are not intact then the cognitive process of memory will not function. First Body Paragraph: Clive Wearing’s case study (Sacks, 1997) demonstrates how biological factors could affect the cognitive process of memory when Clive Wearing contacted Herpes Simplex Encephalitis and thus resulted to both anterograde and retrograde amnesia. Clive Wearing is unable to recall his past and recreate new memories because of the brain damage in the hippocampus. However, his emotional and procedural memory still continued to remain intact. Clive Wearing can still play the piano and conduct music, skills which he possessed before contacting his illness. These skills are part of his implicit memory. This is evidence of a distributed memory system, since implicit memory is linked or connected to a brain structure other than the hippocampus. His emotional memory also remained intact. This is clearly demonstrated by the affection he shows his wife. Thus showing that his amygdala (which is associated with emotional responses) was not damaged, as it remained intact. Although the biological correlates are not clearly established in the sense that his implicit memories cannot correspond and be identified with a specific brain structure, Sacks (1997) case study of Clive Wearing clearly demonstrates how a biological factor of brain damage, specifically in the hippocampus affects the cognitive process of memory. Wearing’s case study also shows the complexity of the brain as some aspects of his memory remain intact. However, case studies such as Clive Wearing’s are difficult to generalize because the condition of a person is very rare and this cannot be replicated so easily, as other experimental research studies are generated. Second Body Paragraph: One of the most famous case studies is the study of HM. He was first studied by Milner and Scoville (1957). Many scientific studies were done on HM but his identity was kept confidential (unlike Clive Wearing). HM’s head injury sustained when he was nine and suffered from epileptic seizures. Since there was no medical treatments to control the severe seizures, the doctors decided to carried an operation. They removed tissue from the temporal love, including the part of hippocampus. But HM was able to recall information acquired in early life, but was unable to form new memories. Just like Clive Wearing, he suffered anterograde amnesia. But on the other hand he is able to have normal conversation with people but cannot recognize the faces whom he is talking to. HM was studied for 44 years before he was put into scanner and it became clear which parts of the brain was damaged – specifically highlighting hippocampus damage. With scanners, researchers have a much better chance of testing which areas of the brain are related to certain areas of memory and skill learning. The coming of the fMRI shows the clear link between biological factors and cognitive process. As technology develops, so will our knowledge of determining the extent to which biological factors affect the cognitive process of memory. IV. Conclusion: Through the case studies of Clive Wearing (Sacks, 1997) and HM (Scoville, 1957) the biological factors specifically brain damage to the hippocampus affect memory. As technology advances and more brain technologies and innovations are developed (fMRI, MRI, PET), cognitive psychologists are able to learn more about the brain structures involved in memory. Thus, the structure of the brain could be closely related to the function of the brain and the relationship of biological factors and how it affects the cognitive process of memory. The cases of Clive and HM show that if the structures of the brain are not intact then the cognitive process of memory will not function fully. This indicates that the structure of the brain is an indispensable part for humans thinking and behavior.