HM: A Legacy in Neuroscience

Abstract

“The problem of neurology is to understand man him- self.” Walking by the Montreal Neurological Institute (MNI) and Hospital, one might give brief regard to these words coined by Wilder Penfield and prominently displayed on the edifice of the building. It is unlikely, however, that most pas- sersby would have an accurate grasp of the groundbreaking work that has been undertaken by scientists at this institute – research that has delved into the inner workings of the human mind. During the 1930s, Penfield developed the surgical treatment of epilepsy by means of temporal lobe resection, and this procedure became a standard among many neurosurgical centres (Greenblatt, Dagi, et al. 1997). The MNI is also where Brenda Milner began her groundbreaking work in the field of neuropsychology, most notably with a patient who until recently was simply known as HM.