1. The Habit Loop Summary and Analysis

In 1993, Eugene Pauly, after suffering a serious bout of viral encephalitis and nearly losing his life, suffered through the loss of functioning in regions of his brain, even though all of its basic functioning remained intact. Eugene stuns researchers by recovering rapidly, but he still can't remember people very well. One researcher, Larry Squire, recognizes that the damage is very similar to another patient he once studied, H.M., who had part of his brain removed to prevent serious seizures. This procedure rapidly alters his memory, leaving everything before the operation accessible to him, but preventing him from being able to form new memories. Squire notices that Pauly, unlike H.M., has the ability to lead conversations. Squire questions him, and discovers that while Pauly is able to find his way around the house, he is unable...