What is the relationship between the hippocampus and memory?

The hippocampus is critically involved in the process of forming new memories, particularly declarative memories, which include facts and events. Research has shown that the hippocampus is essential for converting short-term memories into long-term memories through processes such as consolidation. This region helps in the organization and retrieval of information, allowing for memory formation that is flexible and can be accessed later.

Disruption to the hippocampus can lead to significant impairments in the ability to create new memories, while older memories that have already been consolidated in other areas of the brain may remain intact. This highlights the hippocampus's key role not just in storing information but in the dynamic process of memory creation, making it a vital structure in understanding how we learn and remember information over time.