What role does the hippocampus play in memory?

The hippocampus is crucial for facilitating the formation of new memories, particularly declarative memories, which include facts and events. It acts as a key structure within the brain's limbic system, playing an essential role in the encoding and consolidation processes for new information. When experiences are encountered, the hippocampus helps to integrate and organize that information, making it easier to store and retrieve later.

As new memories are formed, the hippocampus interacts with various cortical regions to help encode information, which can later be transformed into long-term memories. Over time, and especially as these memories become more stable, they may be transferred from the hippocampus to other areas of the brain for long-term storage. This makes the hippocampus particularly important in learning environments where acquiring new knowledge or skills is necessary.

While other regions of the brain may be involved in regulating various neural processes, storing long-term memories, or enhancing sensory perception, it is the hippocampus that is specifically recognized for its central role in the immediate formation and consolidation of new memories.