"University of California scientists are shaving hair-fine slices from the frozen brain of H. M. in an attempt to uncover the source of human memory. (Dec 2009)

Henry Molaison, known as H.M. in scientific literature, was perhaps the most famous patient in all of brain science in the 20th century.

By the time he passed away December 2 of last year, plans had already been set to study his brain. Dr. Corkin had long decided that it was imperative to examine it post-mortem, and the patient and his legal conservator agreed to sign a donation form in 1992. Then, in 2002, Dr. Corkin assembled a team of scientists to decide what they would do, minute by minute, upon his death.

Researchers have spent the last year preparing for the process of slicing Molaison's brain. Their technology allows them to cut the brain at a width of 70 microns, and will yield about 2,600 slices total."