Clive Wearing's Condition

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About thirty years ago, Clive Wearing was a normal British musicologist who had the normal memory that we all sometimes take for granted. In March of 1985, Wearing was diagnosed with the Herpesvirus encephalitis. This is a condition that causes the herpes virus to infect the central nervous system which lead surgeons with the option of removing his hippocampus. As a result, Wearing became unable to create any new memories and even control his emotions since he contracted the condition. Now, Wearing cannot remember anything that has happened since his surgery or anything that has happened within seconds of him experiencing it. Fortunately, Clive Wearing is able to recall some of his memories that he has had before the condition. For example, …show more content…

A study such as this is a great contribution to the study of the cognitive process because this realistic case is not able to be ethically produced in a laboratory setting. Since this is a real life study, the results are also more valid because the results are based on real observations and interviews that are not affected by other influences. In better understanding the sematic memory or most commonly known as the long term memory Wearing’s condition opened doors that help psychologist figure out how important it has an effect on everyday life. With long term memory, we are able to remember the events that we are emotionally tied to for long extents at a time. Wearing does not have much of a sematic memory, however, the love for his wife is something he still remembers even though he cannot remember what she tells him. Because his love for her is such a strong emotion he is able to remember her more because his emotion ties into his sematic memory. He also has emotional ties with music, Wearing loved music and perused a career in music he is still able to sight read and play music. Even though these were things he knew how to do before the surgery he was tied to these things emotionally which is part of the reason why he remembers these things so

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