Kent Cochrane

Kent Cochrane
Kent Cochrane, known as "Patient K.C."
Born	(1951-08-05)August 5, 1951 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Died	March 27, 2014(2014-03-27) (aged 62) Toronto, Ontario, Canada
Known for	Case study in memory research

Kent Cochrane (August 5, 1951 – March 27, 2014), often referred to in scientific literature as "Patient K.C.", was a Canadian memory disorder patient who became one of the most famous case studies in cognitive neuroscience. His case provided significant insights into the understanding of memory, particularly the distinction between episodic and semantic memory.

Early Life

Kent Cochrane was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Little is known about his early life before the accident that led to his condition. He was described as a bright and sociable individual.

Accident and Condition

In 1981, at the age of 30, Cochrane was involved in a severe motorcycle accident that resulted in a traumatic brain injury. The accident caused extensive damage to his medial temporal lobes, including the hippocampus, which is crucial for memory formation.

Memory Impairment

Following the accident, Cochrane developed a profound form of amnesia. He was unable to form new episodic memories, which are memories of personal experiences and specific events in time. However, his semantic memory, which involves general knowledge and facts, remained largely intact. This dissociation between episodic and semantic memory was pivotal in advancing the understanding of memory systems.

Episodic Memory

Cochrane's inability to recall personal experiences highlighted the role of the hippocampus and related structures in episodic memory. Researchers found that while he could not remember events from his own life, he could still learn new factual information, albeit with difficulty.

Semantic Memory

Despite his episodic memory loss, Cochrane retained the ability to recall general knowledge and facts. This preservation of semantic memory suggested that different neural mechanisms underlie these two types of memory.

Contributions to Neuroscience

Cochrane's case was extensively studied by cognitive neuroscientists, including Endel Tulving, who coined the terms "episodic" and "semantic" memory. His condition provided empirical evidence for the theory that these two types of memory are distinct and supported by different brain systems.

Legacy

Kent Cochrane's case has been cited in numerous scientific papers and textbooks. His contributions to the field of memory research have been invaluable, providing a deeper understanding of how memory functions and the brain structures involved.

Also see

• Memory
• Amnesia
• Hippocampus
• Endel Tulving
• Semantic memory
• Episodic memory