In 1953, the majority of the hippocampus of Henry Molaison (the man who could not remember) along with some surrounding neuronal tissue, was surgically removed from both hemispheres of his brain. Because of Molaison, it is known that memory function originates in this region.

When Jacopo Annese finishes constructing his multidimensional, zoomable atlas of H.M.’s brain, scientists will be able to see at the neuronal level exactly how much of H.M.’s hippocampus and surrounding tissue Dr. Scoville left behind, and in what shape. The findings could transform memory science once again.