The hippocampus plays a critical role in the formation, organization, and storage of new memories as well as connecting certain sensations and emotions to these memories. Have you ever noticed how a particular scent might trigger a strong memory? It is the hippocampus that plays a role in this connection. Show
What Is the Hippocampus?The hippocampus is a small, curved formation in the brain that plays an important role in the limbic system. The hippocampus is involved in three primary functions: the formation of new memories, learning, and emotions. It also plays an important part in the recall of emotional memories. Click Play to Learn More About the HippocampusFunctions of the HippocampusResearch has also found that different subregions of the hippocampus play important roles in certain types of memory. Spatial MemoryThe rear part of the hippocampus is involved in the processing of spatial memories. Studies of London cab drivers found that navigating complex mazes of big city streets is linked to the growth of the rear region of the hippocampus. Memory ConsolidationThe hippocampus also plays a role in consolidating memories during sleep. Studies published in 2004 suggest that greater hippocampal activity during sleep following some sort of training or learning experience leads to better memory of the material the following day. Memory TransferMemories are not stored in the hippocampus for the long term. Instead, it is believed that the hippocampus acts as something of a shipping center, taking in information, registering it, and temporarily storing it before shipping it off to be filed and stored in long-term memory. Sleep is believed to play a critical role in this process. LocationBecause the brain is lateralized and symmetrical, you actually have two hippocampi. They are located just above each ear and about an inch-and-a-half inside your head. Risk FactorsThere are a few different factors that can affect the function of the hippocampus:
The hippocampus may also play a role in contributing to the development of addictions. Because drugs and alcohol affect the brain's reward systems, the hippocampus creates memories of these satisfying experiences. It also may help form memories of environmental cues associated with substance use that can contribute to intense cravings when these cues are
encountered again. Effects of Hippocampus DamageThere are a number of things that can cause hippocampus damage, including traumatic brain injury, stroke, Alzheimer's disease, seizures, and ischemia. If the hippocampus is damaged by disease or injury, it can influence a person's memories as well as their ability to form new
memories. Hippocampus damage can particularly affect spatial memory, or the ability to remember directions, locations, and orientations. Because the hippocampus plays such an important role in the formation of new memories, damage to this part of the brain can have a serious long-term impact on certain types of memory. Damage to the hippocampus has been observed upon post-mortem analysis of the brains of individuals with amnesia. Such damage is linked to problems with forming explicit memories such as names, dates, and events. The exact impact of damage can vary depending on which hippocampus has been affected. Research on mice suggests that damage to the left hippocampus affects the recall of verbal information, while damage to the right hippocampus results in problems with visual information. Signs of Hippocampus DamageSome of the signs of damage or injury to the hippocampus include:
In addition to memory problems and other symptoms often linked to Alzheimer's disease, problems with the hippocampus are also linked to mental health conditions such as bipolar disorder, depression, and schizophrenia. How to Keep Your Hippocampus HealthySo what can you do to protect your hippocampus? Some tips that may help protect the health of your hippocampus include:
History of the HippocampusThe term hippocampus is derived from the Greek word hippokampus (hippo meaning "horse" and kampos meaning "sea monster") because the structure resembles the shape of a sea horse. The structure was first described by the anatomist Julius Caesar Aranzi. Because the hippocampus has been known of and observed for centuries, it is one of the most studied areas of the brain. Verywell Mind uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read our editorial process to learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
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Kendra Cherry Thanks for your feedback! How is the hippocampus important for memory?The hippocampus helps humans process and retrieve two types of memory, declarative memories and spatial relationships. Declarative memories are those related to facts and events. Examples can include learning how to memorize speeches or lines in a play. Spatial relationship memories involve pathways or routes.
What type of memory is most impaired by damage to the hippocampus?If the hippocampus is damaged by disease or injury, it can influence a person's memories as well as their ability to form new memories. Hippocampus damage can particularly affect spatial memory, or the ability to remember directions, locations, and orientations.
What type of memory failure is involved in the tip of the tongue effect?One of the difficulties experienced by people who claim subjective memory problems is that “they cannot quickly come up with names.” This “Tip-of-the-Tongue” (ToT) phenomenon is a common type of speech error in which a person has a strong feeling of knowing the target word, but experiences retrieval failure, because of ...
What type of memory failure is involved in the tip of the tongue effect quizlet?Terms in this set (16)
The tip-of-the-tongue phenomenon is the failure to retrieve a word from memory, combined with partial recall and the feeling that retrieval is imminent. Automatic encoding is a process of memory where information is taken in and encoded without deliberate effort.
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