What type of memory is primarily involved in the hippocampus' role?

The hippocampus plays a crucial role in the formation and retrieval of explicit memory, which includes episodic and semantic memories—these are types of long-term memories that involve conscious recollection of facts and events. Explicit memory allows individuals to recall information and experiences deliberately, tapping into the stored knowledge and personal history that the hippocampus helps consolidate from short-term to long-term memory.

Procedural memory, which is a type of implicit memory, involves skills and tasks that can be performed without conscious awareness and is primarily associated with the basal ganglia and cerebellum. Short-term memory involves the temporary storage of information and is managed by different brain regions, not specifically the hippocampus. Implicit memory refers to unconscious memories, such as those involved in motor skills or conditioned responses, again associated with brain structures other than the hippocampus. Thus, the correct focus on explicit memory highlights the hippocampus's essential function in conscious cognitive processes related to memory.