Sectioning the Brain: A Memorial to Patient, "H.M."

As best he could remember, Henry Gustav Molaison never visited San Diego, spending his entire life on the East Coast. When he died late last year at the age of 82, Molaison was a man almost entirely unknown except by his initials H.M. and the fact that experimental brain surgery had erased his ability to form new memories.

Read more and see a photo of young Henry: click here. Source: H.M. recollected: Famous amnesic launches a bold, new brain project at UCSD, UNION-TRIBUNE STAFF WRITER.Monday, November 30, 2009 at 12:04 a.m. http://www3.signonsandiego.com/news/2009/nov/30/hm-recollected-famous-amnesic-launches-bold-new-br/. Accessed December 4, 2009.

Click a link to see the microtome sectioning the brain:

http://thebrainobservatory.ucsd.edu/hm_live.php

or

http://neurosciences.ucsd.edu/

Notes:
Because many viewers are watching the sectioning as it progresses, anyone taking a break or not watching is asked to close the link until they come back to watch again.

"To become a sponsor of patient H.M.’s giant histological glass slides, send your check to: The Brain Observatory, 3510 Dunhill Street, San Diego, CA 92121 Or make your generous donation by following this link: *Donate*"

On, "Shrinking Brains and HRT"

If the linked news article for the day is science related, I try to add the link so that it can be found by clicking on other days than the day it appeared.

"Brain volume was 2.37 cubic centimetres lower in the frontal lobe and 0.10 cubic centimetres lower in the hippocampus. " http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/health/7825116.stm

Using science in the news in the classroom helps students relate science to every day life. It motivates some to an interest or career in science.