A patient's chart indicates he just had surgery to remove his hippocampus as a result of a tumor. What change do you anticipate in the patient after the operation?
A) The patient will not be able to process colors.
B) The patient will have problems experiencing hunger.
C) The patient will not be able to remember new information.
D) The patient will not be able to perform tasks such as block designs.

Question

A patient's chart indicates he just had surgery to remove his hippocampus as a result of a tumor. What change do you anticipate in the patient after the operation?
A) The patient will not be able to process colors.
B) The patient will have problems experiencing hunger.
C) The patient will not be able to remember new information. 
D) The patient will not be able to perform tasks such as block designs.

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in forming new memories, so removal of this structure would likely result in the patient being unable to remember new information. Dysfunction in other areas of the brain could potentially affect color perception or hunger, but removal of the hippocampus specifically would not directly cause these issues. Difficulty with block designs requires intact visual perception and spatial reasoning abilities, which are not primarily mediated by the hippocampus.

A Patient's Chart Indicates He Just Had Surgery to Remove