Wilson (key study) (memory)

Question 1

What was the background?

Answer 1

The researchers wanted to find out more about people with amnesic syndrome, including:
- Distorted memories (semantic and episodic)
- Delusions
- Consciousness

Question 2

What was the aim?

Answer 2

The researchers aimed to report on Clive Wearing, who has the worst case of amnesia (both retrograde and anterograde) ever recorded; they wanted to record both neurophysiological assessments on Clive’s brain and his psychological experiences.

Question 3

What was the sample?

Answer 3

• Clive Wearing
• Only 1 person
• Born in the UK in 1938

Question 4

What was the design?

Answer 4

A longitudinal single case study covering 21 years, collecting both qualitative and quantitative data.

Question 5

What were the materials?

Answer 5

• Neuropsychological tests (like IQ tests)
• Tests of verbal fluency
• A digit span test (which tested his long and short term memory
• MRI scans to see the amount and location of his brain damage

Question 6

What was the state of Clive Wearing’s long term memory?

Answer 6

“severely impaired”

Question 7

What was the state of Clive Wearing’s shory term memory?

Answer 7

Normal

Question 8

How did they conduct neurophysiological assessments?

Answer 8

• MRI scans
• Asking questions
• Verbal performance and IQ tests

Question 9

What were the results?

Answer 9

CW was found to have:
- Severe brain abnormalities
- Retrograde and anterograde amnesia
- The inability to form new memories
- Decreased performance and verbal IQs (still normal but less than before)
- Some loss of semantic memory
- Severely damaged episodic memory

Question 10

What were CW’s delusions?

Answer 10

He insisted that he didn’t have a problem with his memory, instead saying that he had not been conscious since his illness; he continued to say this, even after being shown evidence that disproves his statements.

Question 11

What are the conclusions?

Answer 11

• CW’s sense of ‘self’ was disrupted by his disorder.
• The viral infection herpes simplex encephalitis can result in brain damage.
• Brain damage can significantly affect memory.

Question 12

What theory does this key study support?

Answer 12

The multi store model as it suggests that short term and long term memory have separate stores.

Question 13

What were the criticisms?

Answer 13

• Repeatedly testing CW over 21 years is unethical and may have caused him psychological stress.
• CW was just a test subject, none of the experiments were to benefit him in any way.
• CW was irritated at having his belief in his own consciousness questioned.
• Confidentiality was not maintained.
• Results cannot be generalised as his case is very rare.